No. 37 Arkansas Falls to No. 22 Oklahoma, 6-1

EDMOND, Okla. – The No. 37 Arkansas men’s tennis team (11-4, 1-1) suffered its first loss in SEC play this season, falling 6-1 to No. 22 Oklahoma (8-2, 1-0) Monday at Edmond Center Court.

In doubles play, the Sooners took the early advantage with a win on court three, as Harazaki/Melero defeated Marino Jakic and Lukas Palovic, 6-2. Oklahoma claimed the doubles point after another 6-2 victory from Lacides/Nhavene over Connor Smillie and Jakub Vrba in the top spot. Božo Barun and Benni Emesz’s match at the No. 2 position went unfinished with the Razorback duo trailing Alvarez/Montsi, 4-5.

The Sooners carried their momentum into singles play, winning the first set on five courts. On court three, No. 96 Alvarez grabbed a straight-set victory against Jakic, while No. 102 Vrba dropped his first match of the spring to Kimhi in straight sets at the No. 4 position. Oklahoma clinched the match on court one as No. 123 Lacides bested Barun in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

At the No. 6 position, Arthur Bellegy fell in his match after a close finish in the final set to Melero, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, as the remaining courts were played out. Emesz dropped a three-set battle to Hasson on court five, 5-7, 6-4, 0-1 (6-10). Palovic secured the only point of the match for the Hogs after a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) win over Montsi at the No. 2 position to close out the match. With the victory, Palovic collected his team-leading ninth dual singles win.

Arkansas returns to Billingsley Tennis Center on Friday, Feb. 28 to face No. 9 Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m. before a doubleheader on Sunday, March 2 against No. 16 Tennessee at 12 p.m. and Southern Miss at 5 p.m.