Hogs sweep double header

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 47 University of Arkansas men’s tennis team posted two wins on Sunday, defeating the Pacific Tigers, 6-1, before dismissing the Cowley County Community College Tigers, 7-0.“It was a good day for the team,” head Razorback coach Robert Cox said. “The guys handled a 12 hour day very well, everyone putting in great performances in singles and/or doubles today against both teams.”

Against Pacific, the Razorbacks (5-2) secured the doubles point behind their No. 2 doubles team, Chris Nott and Dmitry Lebedev, and No. 3 team, Tyler Tarnasky and Bradwin Williams. Nott and Lebedev won 8-5 over Artem Gramma and Ryan Kim after Tarnasky and Williams beat Karl-Erik Paaro and Christian Kuehne, 8-5.

Pacific’s No. 1 doubles duo, Moritz Starke and Renan Delsin surprised No. 14-ranked Blake Strode and partner Matt Hogan, downing the Hogs, 8-5.

There was fierce competition in singles against the Tigers from California. Hogan, playing Gramma, had a frustrating second set as several of his balls just missed the line. The two headed into a third set where Hogan’s ability to track balls from one side of the court to the other wore Gramma down and earned the Razorback the win, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

“The match against Pacific was much closer, once again, than the score suggests,” Cox said. “Pacific is a very good team and they played us hard.”

At No. 1 singles, Strode, ranked No. 15 in the country, struggled to earn his win over Starke, as the Tiger took the match to a second set tiebreak before Strode took him down, 7-5, 7-6(1). Lebedev also face a second set tiebreak, against Vergerd Veskimagi, before clinching the victory for the Razorbacks, 6-4, 7-6(3).

In other singles action against Pacific, Tarnasky earned his second dual win of the season, 6-3, 6-3 over Paaro and Delsin fell to Nott in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. At No. 6 singles, Williams never managed to find his footing, falling to Kuehne, 6-3, 6-1.

The Razorbacks mixed it up in the evening match with Cowley County, Strode and Hogan holding their spot at No. 1 doubles and downing Lloyd Bruce-Burgess and Peter Billingham without fuss, 8-4. Williams and Tarnasky moved to No. 2 doubles where they recorded their second victory of the day, 8-6, over Bommer Saia and Roger White.

In the No. 3 position, Connor Smith and partner Nick Spinazze played in their first match of the spring season, defeating Jeff Sasser and Renato Mendes, 8-3.

Smith stayed in the lineup to play at No. 6 singles where he wasted no time dismissing Bruce-Burgess, 6-0, 6-0 in under a half hour.

Freshmen Nikolas Zogaj and Matt Walter got in on the singles action on Sunday night as well, playing at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, respectively. Zogaj didn’t stumble in his first home match, winning decisively, 6-1, 6-1. Playing in the first dual match of his Razorback career, Walters played into a second set tiebreak with Mendes before besting the Tiger, 6-1, 7-6(3).

Also added to the lineup was sophomore Nick Spinazze who played at No. 3 singles against Billingham and picked up his first win of the spring by the score, 6-4, 6-2.

Moving up the lineup into the No. 2 slot, Williams earned his first win of the double header against White, winning, 6-2, 6-2. Nott hit a snag his second set with Bruce-Burgess at No. 1 singles but pulled out the straight sets victory, 6-3, 6-4.

“For us to come out this weekend and defend our home court like we did says something about this team,” Cox said.

Next, the Hogs will dual with Oklahoma on Friday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Dills Indoor Stadium. For complete coverage of Arkansas men’s tennis, log onto ArkansasRazorbacks.com.#47 Arkansas 6, Pacific 1February 15, 2009Fayetteville, Ark.Singles1. #15 Blake Strode (UA) def. Moritz Starke (UP), 7-5, 7-6(1)2. #39 Matt Hogan (UA) def. Artem Gramma (UP), 6-4, 4-6, 6-13. Chris Nott (UA) def. Renan Delsin (UP), 6-4, 6-4*4.Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Vergerd Veskimagi (UP), 6-4, 7-6(3)5. Tyler Tarnasky (UA) def. Karl-Erik Paaro (UP), 6-3, 6-36. Christian Kuehne (UP) def. Bradwin Williams (UA), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles1. Mortiz Starke/Renan Delsin (UP) def. #14 Blake Strode/Matt Hogan (UA), 8-52. Chris Nott/Dmitry Lebedev (UA) def. Artem Gramma/Ryan Kim (UP), 8-53. Tyler Tarnasky/Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Karl-Erik Paaro/Christian Kuehne (UP), 8-5

Order of Finish:Doubles: 3, 2, 1Singles: 6, 3, 5, 4, 1, 2*-clinching match

#47 Arkansas 7, Cowley County C.C. 0February 15, 2009Fayetteville, Ark.Singles:1. Chris Nott (UA) def. Lloyd Bruce-Burgess (CC), 6-3, 6-4*2.Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Roger White (CC), 6-2, 6-23. Nick Spinazze (UA) def. Peter Billingham (CC), 6-4, 6-24. Nikolas Zogaj (UA) def. Felipe Pimenta (CC), 6-1, 6-15. Matt Walters (UA) def. Renato Mendes (CC), 6-1, 7-6 (3)6. Connor Smith (UA) def. Boomer Saia (CC), 6-0, 6-0

Doubles:1. #14 Blake Strode/Matt Hogan (UA) def. Lloyd Bruce-Burgess/Peter Billingham (CC), 8-42. Tyler Tarnasky/Bradwin Williams (UA) def. Boomer Saia/Roger White (CC), 8-63. Connor Smith/Nick Spinazze (UA) def. Jeff Sasser/Renato Medes (CC), 8-3

Order of Finish:Doubles: 1, 2, 3Singles: 6, 4, 2, 3, 1, 5