Golden Hurricane Advance to ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship with 4-2 Win Over Utah

Saturday, January 25

Columbus, Ohio

12:00 pm CT

Tulsa

Utah

Photo by: Bill Powell

Golden Hurricane Advance to ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship with 4-2 Win Over Utah

1/25/2020 4:37:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

Box Score (PDF)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Tulsa men's tennis team improved to 5-0 overall on Saturday, as the No. 3-seeded Golden Hurricane took down No. 2-seeded Utah, 4-2, at the OSU Varsity Tennis Center.

With the win over the Utes (2-1), the Hurricane advance to the Columbus regional championship match of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend on Sunday vs. top-seeded and sixth-ranked Ohio State (5-0) at 12 noon CT. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the ITA Division I National Men's Team Indoor Championship in February.

TU trailed early, as the Golden Hurricane only saw victory in one doubles contest. At No. 1 doubles, Connor Di Marco and Kody Pearson defeated Randy Cory and Russell Benkaim of Utah, 6-4.

Pearson claimed the first win in singles, as the 98th-ranked Australian secured a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Benakim. The 1-1 tie was short-lived, as Jarod Hing suffered a 6-1, 7-5 defeat at No. 2 singles to Franco Capalbo.

That would be Tulsa's final loss of the day, as the Hurricane captured its next three duals.

Ezequiel Santalla rallied from one-set down for a three-set win over Randy Cory at No. 6 singles 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Di Marco followed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles vs. Slava Shainyan.

Stefan Hampe was able to overcome a multi-point deficit in his opening set tiebreak against Mathias Gavelin at No. 3 singles. After capturing the opening frame, Hampe clinched the match 7-6(6), 6-3.

Fans can follow tomorrow's match vs. Ohio State via live stats and live stream.

For all Tulsa men's tennis news and information, visit TulsaHurricane.com. Be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tulsa vs. Utah Final Results
Singles competition
1. #98 Kody Pearson (TLS-M) def. Russell Benkaim (UTAH) 6-1, 6-0
2. Franco Capalbo (UTAH) def. Jarod Hing (TLS-M) 6-1, 7-5
3. Stefan Hampe (TLS-M) def. Mathias Gavelin (UTAH) 7-6 (8-6), 6-3
4. Connor Di Marco (TLS-M) def. Slava Shainyan (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
5. Wally Thayne (UTAH) vs. Juan Pablo Cenoz (TLS-M) 7-5, 1-6, 1-2, unfinished
6. Ezequiel Santalla (TLS-M) def. Randy Cory (UTAH) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Connor Di Marco/Kody Pearson (TLS-M) def. Randy Cory/Russell Benkaim (UTAH) 6-4
2. Franco Capalbo/Wally Thayne (UTAH) def. Boriss Kamdem/Daniel Siddall (TLS-M) 6-3
3. Slava Shainyan/Azat Hankuliyev (UTAH) def. Stefan Hampe/Tom Thelwall-Jones (TLS-M) 6-2 Match

Order of finish:
Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,6,4,3)