Texas A&M Tennis Tripped up by Oklahoma in NCAA Second Round

(Source: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics)
(Source: Russell James/Texas A&M Athletics)

COLLEGE STATION – The 13th-seeded Texas A&M men’s tennis team fell, 4-3, to No. 21 Oklahoma Sunday afternoon at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies end the season at 21-8 after reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 26th straight season.

“It’s hard to lose at the very end, it’s disappointing and I feel badly for the guys because they have poured their heart and soul into the team this year,” Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton said. “For it to come to an abrupt end is difficult, but as we reflect back on this season after a few days I think you will see a lot of the guys realize how well we did. We had chances, but they were able to come through in those key moments”

The Aggies dropped a tight doubles point falling 6-4 on courts one and three after winning court two, 6-3. A&M’s Valentin Vacherotand Noah Schachter posted the first win on the middle court against OU’s Jake Van Emburgh and Ferran Calvo. The Sooners duo of Spencer Papa and Max Stewart snuck by A&M’s Hady Habib and Pranav Kumar on court three followed by the clincher from No. 25 Alex Bakshi and Stefano Tsorotiotis over A&M’s Carlos Aguilar and Barnaby Smith.

A&M clawed back into the match, tying the score at one-all, two-all and three-all. A&M sophomore Habib, ranked No. 58, defeated Bakshi, ranked No. 41, 7-5, 6-0 on court two to knot the match at one apiece. The Sooners regained the lead as Tsorotiotis ousted A&M’s Austin Abbrat 6-2, 6-4 on court six.

No. 86 Vacherot even the match for the second time on the day at two-all as he defeated OU’s Van Emburgh, ranked No. 77, on court three. The visitors once again took the lead as Calvo topped A&M’s Smith, 6-2, 7-6(5) on court four to take the 3-2 advantage.

Needing to win the final two matches on court, the Aggies looked to claim a bit of the momentum leading in the third sets on courts one and five. Aguilar, ranked No. 31, defeated No. 32 Papa on the top court, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 to level the team score for the final time on the day.

After taking the lead a couple times in the final set and in the tiebreaker, A&M’s Schachter ran out of steam to fall 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(7) to OU’s Mason Beiler.

Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men’s tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men’s tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMTEN.

Tennis Match Results
OU vs Texas A&M
5/5/2019 at College Station, TX
(George P. Mitchell Tennis Center)

#21 OU 4, #13 Texas A&M 3
Singles competition
1. #31 Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAMU) def. #32 Spencer Papa (OU) 6-0, 4-6, 7-5
2. #58 Hady Habib (TAMU) def. #41 Alex Bakshi (OU) 7-5, 6-0
3. #86 Valentin Vacherot (TAMU) def. #77 Jake Van Emburgh (OU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Ferran Calvo (OU) def. #120 Barnaby Smith (TAMU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Mason Beiler (OU) def. Noah Schachter (TAMU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7)
6. Stefano Tsorotiotis (OU) def. Austin Abbrat (TAMU) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Alex Bakshi/Stefano Tsorotiotis (OU) def. Juan Carlos Aguilar/Barnaby Smith (TAMU) 6-4
2. Valentin Vacherot/Noah Schachter (TAMU) def. Jake Van Emburgh/Ferran Calvo (OU) 6-3
3. Spencer Papa/Max Stewart (OU) def. Hady Habib/Pranav Kumar (TAMU) 6-4

Match Notes:
OU 16-10; National ranking #21
Texas A&M 21-7; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,6,3,4,1,5)

Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics

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