Big 12 Tournament Starts Friday

Big 12 Tournament Starts Friday

April 18, 2019 | Men's Tennis

25Oklahoma
OUTTUU
18Texas Tech
Friday, April 19 | 9 a.m. CT | Lawrence, Kansas | Sports Pavillion Courts

LAWRENCE, Kansas – The No. 25 Oklahoma men's tennis team is set to open the 2019 Big 12 Tennis Championships Friday with No. 18 Texas Tech at 9 a.m. CT.

Regular Season Recap

The No. 25 Sooners completed the regular season at 14-9 overall and 1-4 against the Big 12. Oklahoma's lone Big 12 win came over Bedlam foe and then-No. 27 Oklahoma State 6-1 in Norman.

OU recorded six shutouts this season, with all of those coming at home. OU opened the season with sweeps of its first five opponents, racking up a 26-0 combined record to open the season. Oklahoma tallied six wins over ranked opponents, downing No. 49 Kentucky, No. 45 Tulsa, No. 21 Florida State, No. 50 Memphis, No. 46 USF and No. 27 Oklahoma State.

Where They Rank

Three players represent OU in the latest ITA singles release. No. 36 Spencer Papa is 8-6 on the season at the top spot. Alex Bakshi is No. 62 nationally with a 9-5 record on courts one, two and three. No. 80 Jake Van Emburgh is 11-6 on the year, playing primarily on court two.

Bakshi and Stefano Tsorotiotis entered the ITA doubles rankings at No. 53 after upsetting the No. 5 and No. 36 doubles teams in the final weekend of the regular season.

Big 12 Championship History

Oklahoma has won a total of 32 Big 12 titles with the first coming in 1929. OU's most recent Big 12 title came in 2015.

OU won four straight Big 12 championships from 2012 to 2015. OU assistant coach Nick Papac was a member of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 championship teams.

Scouting Texas Tech

The Red Raiders wrapped up the regular season with a 15-10 record and a 2-3 mark in conference play. In their last competition, Texas Tech upset then-No. 6 Baylor 4-3 in Lubbock.  

Two Texas Tech players appeared in the latest ITA singles release. Parker Wynn was tabbed No. 79, while Tommy Mylnikov is No. 108. In doubles, Wynn and Bjorn Thompson are ranked No. 4

The Last Time they Met

The Red Raiders bested the Sooners 4-3 April 5 in Lubbock. Papa, Van Emburgh and Max Stewart all picked up singles wins in that contest.

The all-time series between the teams is tied at 23 wins apiece.

Match Info

First serve is set for 9 a.m. CT. at the Sport Pavillion Courts. Live stats will be provided for the contest.

Should the Sooners win, they will face top-seeded Texas in the semifinals Friday at noon CT.

More information on the Big 12 Tennis Championship can be found here.

For updates, follow @OU_MTennis on Twitter or like Oklahoma Men's Tennis on Facebook.