Sooners Take On Kentucky, Vanderbilt in Last Regular-Season Matches

NORMAN – The No. 22 Oklahoma men's tennis team is back on the road to take on Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the final regular-season matches of the year.

The Sooners face Kentucky on Thursday, April 10, at 4 p.m. CT. The match can be followed through live stream or live stats. Next, OU takes on Vanderbilt on Saturday, April 12, at noon CT. Links to follow the match will be added at a later date.

LAST TIME OUT

Oklahoma hosted No. 5 Texas and fell short to the Longhorns, 1-4. The Sooners' lone point came in the doubles portion of the match, where No. 25 duo Oscar Lacides and Bruno Nhavene topped the No. 6 pair, 6-3. The clinching point came at the two position with sophomore Kholo Montsi and junior Luis Alvarez claiming the victory, 6-4.

In the last home match of the season, OU took its 14th win of the season despite dropping the doubles point. The Sooners fought back in singles, with senior Jordan Hasson tying the match following a 6-2, 6-2 win. Montsi gave Oklahoma the lead with a 7-5, 6-3 win on court one and freshman Orel Kimhi claimed the third point for the Sooners after winning 6-3, 7-6(3). Sophomore Asahi Harazaki clinched the win on court six, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1. Soon after, freshman Alejandro Melero won, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, followed by Alvarez claiming the final point with a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4 win.

IN THE RANKINGS

Lacides earned another ITA singles rank, sitting at the No. 78 spot. The freshman has been noted in every ITA singles ranking of the season. Alvarez is also ranked in singles, earning the No. 91 spot.

In doubles, Lacides and Bruno Nhavene remain inside the top 30 at the No. 26 place.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Freshman Alejandro Melero showed up for the Sooners in singles and doubles in two big home matches against No. 5 Texas and LSU. Against Texas, the freshman battled in doubles with teammate Asahi Harazaki before the Sooners on courts one and two claimed wins to take the doubles point.

When facing LSU, Melero and Harazaki took the lone doubles win for Oklahoma, 6-4, before the Sooners dropped the doubles point. The Sooner duo have 10 wins on the season and six SEC wins. In singles, Melero fell short in the first set, 5-7, but fought back to claim the second set, 7-6(3). In the third set, Melero was dominant and sealed the win, 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3. The singles victory marked the fifth point for the Sooners in the match against the Tigers. Melero has picked up five wins on the season, three of which are conference victories.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Kentucky is 14-10 overall and 5-7 in SEC play. The Wildcats are currently on a three-match win streak after topping Ole Miss, 4-1, and Eastern Illinois in a doubleheader, 4-0 and 4-0. Kentucky is ranked outside the top 25 but has three players ranked in singles. Leading the group is Jack Loutit at No. 50, followed by Antoine Ghibaudo at No. 58 and Jaden Weekes at No. 93. In doubles, Loutit and Eli Stephenson are the No. 18 pair in the nation.

Vanderbilt is 10-13 overall and 2-10 against conference opponents. The Commodores picked up wins against Ole Miss, 4-0, and Eastern Illinois, 7-0, in their last two outings. Vanderbilt is not ranked inside the top 25 and does not have any singles players ranked. Nathan Cox and Michael Ross sit at the No. 40 spot in the ITA doubles rankings.

UP NEXT

The Sooners kick off postseason competition in Columbia, S.C. for the SEC Championships from Wednesday, April 16, to Sunday, April 20.

FOLLOW THE SOONERS

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