University of Georgia Athletics
University of Georgia
Oklahoma
Georgia Falls In 4-3 Heartbreaker To Oklahoma
May 24, 2016 | Men's Tennis
Head Coach Manuel Diaz talks about the tough match against Oklahoma today and how proud of the team he is for everything they accomplished this year.
May 24, 2016
TULSA, Okla. -- Georgia's 2015-16 season, which featured the team's fourth-straight SEC Championship, an undefeated league record and a run to the 2016 NCAA Semifinals, came to an end Monday night in a tight 4-3 loss to Oklahoma at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
In what was a back-and-forth match that was even at 3-3, Oklahoma's 61st-ranked Alex Ghilea used a three-set win against Georgia's Walker Duncan, 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 4 singles court to give his team the victory. Oklahoma (20-10) advances to the finals for the third-straight season, while the Bulldogs end their year with a 24-5 overall record after making their 22nd trip to the NCAA semifinal round.
"I told the team that I was very proud of them for this year," head coach Manuel Diaz said. "We had a lot of success and I think each person grew a tremendous amount. The brotherhood that these guys developed this year was really special. We are going to reap a whole lot in the future because of what we were able to accomplish this season."
The Bulldogs lost a tight doubles point after a nip and tuck battle at each of the three positions. After Jan Zielinski and Paul Oosterbaan fell 6-4 at the No. 2 court, Wayne Montgomery and Emil Reinberg jumped out to a 4-2 lead over Oklahoma's Andre Biro and Austin Siegel, but could not hold on as the Sooners won four-straight games to take a 6-4 win and a 1-0 advantage in the match.
Georgia looked strong at the top three singles courts on Monday, taking wins at all three positions. Smith was impressive as he rolled to a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over OU's 97th-ranked Andrew Harris to even the match at 1-1. That lead grew to 2-1 when Oosterbaan delivered a 6-4, 7-5 victory at No. 3.
Up 2-1, Georgia fell at No. 6, before Montgomery fought back after a first-set loss at the No. 2 court to pick up a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over the Sooners' 25th-ranked Axel Alvarez. OU quickly answered back as Florin Bragusi defeated Georgia's Zielinski, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory at the No. 5 position.
With the match even at 3-3, all eyes turned to the No. 4 court, where Duncan was locked in a battle with Ghilea. The Bulldog freshman could not overcome Ghilea in the third set, falling 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2 as Oklahoma took a 4-3 win over the Bulldogs.
Georgia wrapped up another impressive season under Coach Diaz, becoming the first Bulldog team since the 2007 NCAA National Championship squad to go undefeated in SEC play. UGA's senior class of Austin Smith, Nick Wood and Ben Wagland wrapped up their careers as only the third group of seniors in school history to win four consecutive SEC crowns.
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#11 Oklahoma 4, #7 Georgia 3
NCAA Semifinals || Tulsa, Okla.
May 23, 2016
Doubles
1. #24 Axel Alvarez/Andrew Harris (Oklahoma) vs. #11 Austin Smith/Ben Wagland (Georgia), 5-4 DNF
2. Alex Ghilea/Spencer Papa (Oklahoma) def. Paul Oosterbaan/Jan Zielinski (Georgia), 6-4
3. Andre Biro/Austin Siegel (Oklahoma) def. Wayne Montgomery/Emil Reinberg (Georgia), 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 3
Singles
1. #17 Austin Smith (Georgia) def. #97 Andrew Harris (Oklahoma), 6-2, 6-4
2. #32 Wayne Montgomery (Georgia) def. #25 Axel Alvarez (Oklahoma), 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. #64 Paul Oosterbaan (Georgia) def. #82 Spencer Papa (Oklahoma), 6-4, 7-5
4. #61 Alex Ghilea (Oklahoma) def. #123 Walker Duncan (Georgia), 6-7 (8), 6-3, 6-2
5. Florin Bragusi (Oklahoma) def. Jan Zielinski (Georgia), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6. Andre Biro (Oklahoma) def. Nick Wood (Georgia), 7-6 (5), 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 6, 2, 5, 4
Players Mentioned
