Tar Heels Fall To Top-Ranked Sooners 4-1

Sunday, February 22

Norman, Okla.

1:00 PM

North Carolina

Oklahoma

February 22, 2015 | Men's Tennis

By: UNC Athletic Communications

NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 8 North Carolina men's tennis team fell to top-ranked Oklahoma 4-1 on Sunday at Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion in a rematch of last weekend's ITA National Team Indoor Championship quarterfinal contest. With the victory, the Sooners move to 11-1 this spring, while the Tar Heels drop to 9-5.

Oklahoma gained an early advantage in doubles, where it earned the team point on courts two and three. The Sooners' Spencer Papa and Austin Siegel struck first with a 6-3 defeat of redshirt junior Andrew Gores and senior Oystein Steiro on court three. On court two, Andrew Harris and Alex Ghilea sealed the point for Oklahoma, beating Carolina's sophomore duo of Jack Murray and Ronnie Schneider also by a 6-3 score.

In singles play, the Tar Heels put forth a solid effort but could not overcome the Sooners' firepower. UNC junior Brett Clark briefly knotted up the match at 1-1 with a straight-set triumph over Oklahoma's 31st-ranked Dane Webb, 6-3, 6-4 on court three. Clark is now 7-2 in dual-match play, including 5-1 at the No. 3 spot.

From then on out, though, it was all Oklahoma. No. 26 Andrew Harris took down No. 19 Ronnie Schneider 6-4, 7-5 on court one, and Austin Siegel trumped Tar Heel junior Stuart DePaolo 6-4, 6-2 on court six to give the Sooners a 3-1 lead. Florin Bragusi wrapped up the match soon after on court five, topping Oystein Steiro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The two remaining singles matches were halted after Bragusi's victory. Carolina's No. 6 Brayden Schnur led No. 11 Axel Alvarez 7-6(5), 6-6 on court two, while No. 104 Jack Murray trailed Oklahoma's No. 63 Alex Ghilea 7-5, 2-6, 2-5 on court four.

The Tar Heels will return to the confines of Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on Saturday for a doubleheader against No. 34 Minnesota and The Citadel. First serve is set for 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.

#1 Oklahoma 4, #8 North Carolina 1

Singles competition

1. #26 Andrew Harris def. #19 Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 6-4, 7-5

 2. #6 Brayden Schnur (UNC) vs. #11 Axel Alvarez (OU), 7-6(5), 6-6, unfinished

3. Brett Clark (UNC) def. #31 Dane Webb (OU), 6-3, 6-4

4. #104 Jack Murray (UNC) vs. #63 Alex Ghilea (OU), 7-5, 2-6, 2-5, unfinished

 5. Florin Bragusi (OU) def. Oystein Steiro (UNC), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3

 6. Austin Siegel (OU) def. Stuart DePaolo (UNC), 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. #5 Axel Alvarez/Dane Webb (OU) vs. Brett Clark/Brayden Schnur (UNC), 5-4, unfinished

2. Andrew Harris/Alex Ghilea (OU) def. Jack Murray/Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 6-3

 3. Spencer Papa/Austin Siegel (OU) def. Andrew Gores/Oystein Steiro (UNC), 6-3