Comeback Pack Falls Short, Edged by Tulsa, 4-3

Friday, May 8

Fort Worth, Texas

TBA

NC State

Tulsa (NCAA First Round)

5/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis

May 8, 2015

Final Stats

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The No. 37 NC State men's tennis team dropped a valiant comeback-attempt against No. 30 Tulsa, as it fell in the first-round of the NCAA Championship, 4-3.

Match Recap:

Tulsa got ahead early, taking the doubles point with victories at the first and third courts. Thomas Weigel and Ian Dempster's match against the No. 77 duo of Matthew Kirby and Dylan McCloskey was tied at 7-7, but was left unfinished.

In singles, the Wolfpack continued to trail, as Tulsa won the first set on five of the six courts. Simon Norenius was a bright spot early on, as he won his first set, 6-3.

Tulsa took a commanding, 3-0 lead after victories at the top of the lineup. No. 27 Or Ram-Harel defeated No. 69 Robbie Mudge in straight sets on court one, and Beck Bond's 10-match win streak was snapped as he fell to Tulsa's No. 87 Alejandro Espejo on court 2.

The Pack was forced into must-win situations on all four remaining courts.

Norenius was the first to get a point back, defeating Matthew Kirby in straight sets for his 16th win of the dual season.

Despite falling behind, 5-2 in his second set, Austin Powell won five-straight points to force a deciding third set. Nick Horton and Weigel also rallied to force third-sets in their matches to keep the comeback alive.

Weigel knocked off Mitchell Pritchard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, and pulled the Pack within a point. 

Moments later, Powell tied the match. The senior was in full control before his opponent retired from the match. Powell earned his 91st career win.

With the win, Powell takes sole ownership of the third spot in NC State's career wins list. He concludes his final season with 20 overall wins.

In the final match, Horton tied the third set at, 4-4, but was unable to break back, and eventually fell, 6-4 in the deciding frame.

The Wolfpack conclude the season with a 17-12 record. Mudge is an alternate for the singles championship, while Mudge and Dempster are alternates in the doubles championship. The two will await selection for singles and doubles competition set to begin on May 20.

Tennis Match Results

NC State vs Tulsa

May 08, 2015 at Fort Worth, Texas

(Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center)

#30 Tulsa 4, #37 NC State 3

Singles competition

#27 Or Ram-Harel (TULSA) def. #69 Robbie Mudge (ST) 6-1, 6-1
#87 Alejandro Espejo (TULSA) def. Beck Bond (ST) 6-4, 6-4
#110 Simon Norenius (ST) def. Matthew Kirby (TULSA) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
#93 Austin Powell (ST) def. Juan Gonzalez (TULSA) 5-7, 7-5, 4-1, retired
Thomas Weigel (ST) def. Mitchell Pritchard (TULSA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Carlos Bautista (TULSA) def. Nick Horton (ST) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles competition

Or Ram-Harel/Alejandro Espejo (TULSA) def. Nick Horton/Beck Bond (ST) 8-4
Thomas Weigel/Ian Dempster (ST) vs. #77 Matthew Kirby/Dylan McCloskey (TULSA) no result
Carlos Bautista/Juan Gonzalez (TULSA) def. Robbie Mudge/Simon Norenius (ST) 8-5