Rollins and Seger Take Down Nation’s No. 3 Duo in 4-2 Loss to No. 11 Illinois

Thursday, March 14

Stillwater, Okla.

3:00 p.m.

Tulsa

Illinois

Pierce Rollins and Timothy Carlsson Seger

Photo by: Bill Powell

Rollins and Seger Take Down Nation’s No. 3 Duo in 4-2 Loss to No. 11 Illinois

3/14/2024 8:24:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score (PDF)Season Results (PDF)

STILLWATER, Okla. — The 68^th-ranked Tulsa men's tennis team went toe-to-toe Thursday with the No. 11 Illinois Fighting Illini at Oklahoma State's Greenwood Tennis Center as No. 55 senior Pierce Rollins and sophomore Timothy Carlsson Seger took down Hunter Heck and Karlis Ozolins, the nation's No. 3 doubles tandem, in a 6-4 decision to clinch the doubles score atop the lineup. Illinois' singles lineup would prove to be too much to handle as the Golden Hurricane would fall by a result of 4-2, dropping to 6-11 on the year while the Illini rose to 9-4.

The doubles point came down to Rollins and Seger in the No. 1 position after the freshman duo Alex Okonkwo and Victor Tosetto grabbed a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles followed by a 6-4 decision by Illinois in the second position. Rollins and Seger's 6-4 win Thursday is the fifth time the tandem has clinched the doubles point for TU this season and is also their fourth straight win together.

In singles play, Illinois would take the lead 2-1 after taking the No. 1 spot in consecutive 6-2 set scores and the No. 2 position in back-to-back 6-3 stanzas.

Tying up the dual match at 2-2 was senior Thiago Pernas in the third slot with a strong 6-3, 6-4 straight-set win over Oliver Okonkwo, the older brother of Tulsa's Alex Okonkwo.

The Fighting Illini remained unphased and grabbed a 7-5, 6-4 decision at No. 6 Singles. The match was clinched for Illinois at the No. 4 spot. Seger fought valiantly for three sets against No. 55 Kenta Miyoshi, but the ranked Illini had the last laugh, taking the position 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1. Senior Volodymyr Zakharov's match in the fifth slot was left unfinished in the third set.

The Tulsa men will enjoy a two-week break before returning to the Michael D. Case Tennis Center to host New Mexico State (6-9) in a doubleheader Thursday, March 28, with start times to be determined.

Singles
1. #39 Hunter Heck (ILL) def. Pierce Rollins (TLS) 6-2, 6-2
2. #30 Karlis Ozolins (ILL) def. Callum Gale (TLS) 6-3, 6-3
3. Thiago Pernas (TLS) def. Oliver Okonkwo (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
4. #55 Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) def. Timothy Seger (TLS) 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1
5. Volodymyr Zakharov (TLS) vs. Jeremey Zhang (ILL) 6-4, 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
6. Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Alex Okonkwo (TLS) 7-5, 6-4

Doubles
1. #55 Pierce Rollins/Timothy Seger (TLS) def. #3 Hunter Heck/Karlis Ozolins (ILL) 6-4
2. #57 Oliver Okonkwo/Lucas Horve (ILL) def. Gus Tettamble/Callum Gale (TLS) 6-4
3. Victor Tosetto/Alex Okonkwo (TLS) def. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILL) 6-4

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