Tech opens conference at home with two top-25 matches

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech Red Raiders are opening conference play with two top-25 matches at the McLeod Tennis Center this week. First, Tech will face the No. 17-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Thursday, March 21 at 5 p.m. before welcoming the No. 25-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys for a contest on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m.

Texas Tech is heading into conference with an even 8-8 overall record after picking up a win at the Ed Collins Spring Classic in San Diego last weekend. The Red Raiders were able to sweep the Utah Utes, 4-0, behind singles wins from Niksa Arsic, Piotr Pawlak and Takeyasu Sekiguchi, while also winning their 11th (out of a possible 16) doubles point of the season.

The Red Raiders are led in singles by Reed Collier and No. 56-ranked Olle Wallin, who total 15 and 11 singles wins, respectively. Following them is Pawlak with 10 singles wins and Jonas Gundacker with eight. In doubles, Texas Tech is led by No. 41-ranked duo Pawlak and Sebastian Abboud who boast an 11-1 record together and a 7-1 record at one doubles.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Texas Tech and Oklahoma are playing for the 49th time in program history as the all-time series is tied at 24-24. The Red Raiders have won two of the last three matchups including a 4-2 victory last season in Norman. The Sooners, who are ranked 17th in the country, are coming into Thursday's match with a 12-2 overall record and a five-match winning streak against Middle Tennessee (4-1), Drake (4-0), VCU (4-1), San Diego (4-2) and Cornell (4-3). Their only two losses have come against No. 22 Florida State (3-5) and No. 6 Tennessee (1-4). Oklahoma is led in dual singles by Mark Mandlik with 10 wins, both No. 20 Alex Martinez and Jordan Hasson with nine wins apiece and No. 107 Khololwam Montsi with a perfect 8-0 record. In doubles, the duo of Martinez and Montsi are ranked 63rd nationally and hold a 5-2 dual record together.

The No. 25 Oklahoma State Cowboys lead the all-time series with Texas Tech by a 23-17 record after splitting both meetings last season. The Cowboys are 13-4 overall and are on a two-match winning streak. Some key wins have come against No. 11 Illinois (4-2), Tulsa (4-1), Princeton (4-3) and No. 5 USC (6-1). Their four losses were against UCLA (3-4), No. 20 Memphis (2-4), No. 14 San Diego (2-4) and No. 4 Texas. They will open conference play against BYU on March 21. In singles, Oklahoma State has three players ranked in Tyler Zink (18), Isaac Becroft (70) and Alejandro Garcia (77). In doubles, the tandem of Becroft and Zink check in at No. 35 in the rankings.

OPPONENTS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
No. 18 Tyler Zink (OSU)
No. 20 Alex Martinez (OU)
No. 70 Isaac Becroft (OSU)
No. 77 Alejandro Garcia (OSU)
No. 107 Khololwam Montsi (OU)

Doubles
No. 35 Isaac Becroft/Tyler Zink (OSU)
No. 63 Alex Martinez/Khololwam Montsi (OU)

FOLLOW ALONG
Both matches will have live stats and a live stream available. Thursday's match will also be shown on ESPN+. Follow the @TexasTechMTEN X account for updates on the matches.

Tech opens conference at home with two top-25 matches

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Players Mentioned

Sebastian Abboud

Niksa Arsic

Reed Collier

Jonas Gundacker

Piotr Pawlak

Takeyasu Sekiguchi

Olle Wallin

Texas Tech University Athletics