March 15, 2012
SAN DIEGO - The No. 52 Purdue men's tennis team dropped a tough match that came down to the final set on Thursday, falling to Oklahoma State, 4-3, in the first round of the San Diego Hilton Mission Valley Spring Classic.
Oklahoma State (5-5) took the early lead as it took the doubles point. The Cowboys won at No. 1 over Szymon Tatarczyk and Aaron Dujovne, 8-3. Diego Acosta and Mark Kovacs fell at No. 2, 8-2. Krisztian Krocsko and Pawel Poziomski played well for Purdue and won, 8-1, at No. 3.
Purdue (5-5) was able to split the singles matches. Kovacs won at the top spot, 6-4, 2-1, ret. His opponent, Bondarenko, had to retire due to an injury. Tatarczyk won at No. 2, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Dujovne was the other Boilermaker to pick up a win. The sophomore won at No. 5, 6-2, 6-1. Though Acosta and Krocsko both lost in singles, each forced a third set.
The Boilermakers drop to 0-2 all-time against Oklahoma State.
Purdue must now await the result of the Marquette vs. San Diego match. The Boilermakers will play the loser at a time to be determined at San Diego State University.
Singles
1. Kovacs def. Bondarenko - 6-4, 2-1, ret. (injury)
2. Tatarcyzk def. Biktayakov - 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
3. Haworth def. Acosta - 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
4. West def. Krocsko - 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
5. Dujovne def. Champagne - 6-2, 6-1
6. Horstmann def. Poziomski - 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. Bondarenko/Biktayakov def. Tatarcyzk/Dujovne - 8-3
2. West/Haworth def. Acosta/Kovacs - 8-2
3. Krocsko/Poziomski def. Champagne/Horstmann - 8-1