Playing in front of another loud and vibrant crowd at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on Saturday afternoon, the No. 14 Arizona menโs tennis team dominated Oklahoma State in a 4-0 sweep to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the past three seasons.
โI want to say thank you to the people that came and made it special, made it special for our seniors and made it special for all of us,โ the Wildcats' Gustaf Strom said. โIt meant a lot to us.โ
The Cats await the outcome of the Ohio State-Louisville match Sunday afternoon to determine where theyโll be headed next. If the Buckeyes win, UA will be headed on the road to take on Ohio State in Columbus. If Louisville pulls off the upset, the Wildcats would be in line to host one more match against the Cardinals next weekend.
โEither way, Ohio State is really good, but I also feel like weโre a legitimate top-10 team,โ UA coach Clancy Shields said. โWeโre really good on the road, and our guys are really looking forward to this challenge, whatever is coming our way. If Louisville shocks the world and pulls off the upset, weโll be ready to come back here and do it again next week.โ
Arizona also won its first-round matchup, against Boise State on Friday, via a 4-0 sweep.
After reaching the Sweet 16 two seasons ago, the Wildcats lost 4-3 to Tennessee. It was on the court of Strom where the Volunteers clinched the match win. Strom and the rest of the team are determined to make it further in the NCAA Tournament this year.
โI hate losing, and it came down to me in that last match ... it was not a nice feeling,โ Strom said. โBut now we get to do it again. Itโs time to make more out of it this time.โ
Arizonaโs Jonas Ziverts serves against Oklahoma Stateโs Isaac Bescroft in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023. Ziverts notched a straight-sets win.
After losing their doubles match on Friday, Colton Smith and Herman Hoeyeraal bounced back to defeat Isaac Becroft and Alex Garcia of Oklahoma State 6-2. For the second straight match, Strom and Eric Padgham clinched the doubles point for UA, winning 6-3 over the Cowboys doubles team of Alessio Basile and Carl Roothman.
Last season, Shields talked about the importance of the doubles point in college tennis. The Wildcats saw significant improvement in doubles play all season in part due to some changes in the teams he ran out onto the court.
โI think we found some combinations that worked pretty well together,โ Shields said. โBut also when our team is aggressive and we go after it and we swing away, weโre a really tough team. When we donโt do those things, we get beaten. I think we just have to keep encouraging our team to be aggressive and go for it.
โWe know that if we can win the doubles point, itโs really hard for a team to get four points on us. ... If we get that doubles point, it is like the cherry on top.โ
Entering singles play with a 1-0 lead, Smith on Court 1 gave UA a 2-0 match lead with a 6-1, 6-3 singles win over Tyler Zink. Jonas Ziverts followed shortly after with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Becroft on Court 2 to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead in the match.
Arizonaโs Colton Smith runs down a shot into the corner from Oklahoma Stateโs Tyler Zink en route to a straight-sets win in singles during the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023.
Zink and Becroft defeated Florida's top two singles players during the Cowboys' upset of the Gators on Friday. Smith and Ziverts defeated them in dominant fashion.
โI wasnโt counting on (Court) 1 and 2 to be the guys that were winning, and they were the first two off the court,โ Shields said. โThey played awesome. They played together. I mean Colton, that was maybe one of the best matches Iโve seen on Court 1 in the seven years Iโve been here.โ
After dropping his first set 5-7 on Court 4, Hoeyeraal battled back in his match to take the second set and third sets, 6-1 and 6-4, to clinch the match win for UA. Strom had a match point on Court 3, leading 7-5, 5-4, at the time the team match was decided.
The Arizona men's tennis team celebrates upon learning that the Wildcats are hosting an NCAA regional for the first time in program history (video by Ari Koslow / Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Photos: University of Arizona advances out of the second round of NCAA tournament with 4-0 win over Oklahoma State.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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Arizonaโs Herman Hoeyeraal gives a shout to teammate Colton Smith after hitting a winner against Oklahoma State during doubles action in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on May 6, 2023. The Wildcats took the doubles point and won three straight in singles to advance with the 4-0 win.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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Arizonaโs Jonas Ziverts serves against Oklahoma Stateโs Isaac Bescroft in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023. Ziverts notched a straight-sets win.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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Arizonaโs Colton Smith runs down a shot into the corner from Oklahoma Stateโs Tyler Zink en route to a straight-sets win in singles during the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Gustaf Strom slams a backhand against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Gustaf Strom crouches at the net, awaiting the serve from teammate Eric Padgham in their double match against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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Arizonaโs Jay Friend hits a return during doubles action against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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Arizona coach Clancy Shields has a little celebration after Jay Friend, left, and Jonas Ziverts scored in their doubles match against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament in Tucson on May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Jay Friend runs down a deep return against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Herman Hoeyeraal hits a high backhand against Oklahoma Stateโs Chase Ferguson in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023. Hoeyeraalโs three set win clinched the match 4-0.
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University of Arizonaโs Jonas Ziverts launches a forehand in his match against Oklahoma Stateโs Isaac Becroft in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Colton Smith drives a return back to Oklahoma Stateโs Tyler Zink in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Herman Hoeyeraal finishes a forehand in his singles match against Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
University of Arizona vs Oklahoma State
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University of Arizonaโs Herman Hoeyeraal, left, and Jonas Ziverts celebrates after Hoeyeraalโs win against Oklahoma Stateโs Chase Ferguson clinched the win in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament, Tucson, Ariz., May 6, 2023.
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The UA menโs tennis team gets fired up in its pre-match huddle before taking on Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA Menโs Tennis Tournament on May 6, 2023.
