Feb. 27, 2005

Tulsa, O.K. - The Wake Forest men's tennis team dropped their first match of the year to No. 20 Oklahoma State, 4-1. The Deacs lost two out of their three doubles matches, and were not able to finish three matches in singles play. The Deacs are now 7-1 on the year, while Tulsa maintains an 8-2 record.

In doubles play, OSU's team of Mark Van Elden and Daniel Byrnes defeated Derrick Spice and Brett Ross, 9-8 (8-6). The Deacons' top-seeded singles player, Spice, fell to Van Elden, 6-4, 6-0. Ross also lost to Boris Kuharic, 7-6, 6-3.

Todd Paul and Marius Adamski clinched the win over the No. 46 doubles team of Kuharic and Felipe Diaz, 8-6. Paul fell to OSU's Tomas Bohunicky, 6-1, 7-6, at the number two singles spot. Adamski trailed 2-0 in the first set against Diaz; however, this match was not finished after Diaz was injured with a sprained ankle.

The doubles team of Andrew Hamar and Liron Strauss were defeated by Artie Burmistrau and Bohunicky, 8-3. Hamar led Burmistrau at the number three singles position, 6-3, 3-6, 3-2. This match was not finished. Wake's Joe Bates also did not finish his match against Byrnes, in which Bates led 6-1, 3-6, 5-3.

Wake Forest's next match is against Furman in Winston-Salem at the Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday, March 6. The match begins at 12:00pm. Furman currently has an overall record of 2-7.

Singles: 1. Van Elden d. WF's Spice (6-4, 6-0) 2. Bohunicky d. WF's Paul (6-1, 7-6) 3. WF's Hamar led Burmistrau (6-3, 3-6, 3-2, DNF) 4. Kuharic d. WF's Ross (7-6, 6-3) 5. WF's Adamski def. Diaz (DNF due to injury) 6. WF's Bates led Byrnes (6-1, 3-6, 5-3, DNF).

Doubles: 1. Van Elden/Byrnes d. WF's Spice/Ross (9-8 (8-6)) 2. WF's Paul/Adamski d. Kuharic/Diaz (8-6) 3. Burmistrau/Bohunicky d.WF's Strauss/Hamar (8-3).