Men’s Tennis: No. 4 Virginia downs No. 13 Oklahoma, 4-3

The No. 4 Virginia men’s tennis team (12-2) earned a 4-3 victory over No. 13 Oklahoma (7-6) on Saturday(March 12) in a neutral-site match being played at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., the host site for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships (May 19-30).

“Oklahoma is a great team so we are pleased to come out with the win,” said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. “We continue to show signs of improvement with each match, but we still have lots of work ahead of us.”

All three doubles matches finished mere moments from one another with senior Ryan Shane (Falls Church, Va.) and junior Luca Corinteli (Alexandria, Va.) winning 6-2 at No. 1 just as junior J.C. Aragone (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and sophomore Collin Altamirano (Sacramento, Calif.) fell 6-2 at No. 3. Junior Thai-Son Kwitakowski (Charlotte, N.C.) and senior Mac Styslinger wrapped up a 6-3 victory at No. 2 to clinch the point.

In singles, sophomore Henrik Wiersholm (Kirkland, Wash.) increased the UVA lead to 2-0 with a quick 6-0, 6-4 victory over Florin Bragusi on No. 5. After Shane fell 6-2, 7-5 to Axel Alvarez Llamas on one, Kwiatkowski finished his 7-5, 6-3 victory at No. 2 to put Virginia ahead 3-1. Aragone clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 4. The Sooners won the final two singles matches to close out the contest.

Virginia and Oklahoma last met in the 2015 NCAA final with the Cavaliers taking that match 4-1 to win the national championship.

The Cavaliers return home to host No. 27 N.C. State on Friday, March 18 at 3 p.m. followed by a 1 p.m. match against No. 38 Notre Dame on Sunday, March 20. Both matches are scheduled to be played outdoors at the Snyder Tennis Center.

#4 Virginia 4, #13 Oklahoma 3

Singles competition

1. #41 Axel Alvarez Llamas (OU) def. #13 Ryan Shane (VA) 6-2, 7-5
2. #3 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA) def. #99 Alex Ghilea (OU) 7-5, 6-3
3. Spencer Papa (OU) def. #47 Collin Altamirano (VA) 7-6, 6-2
4. #116 J.C. Aragone (VA) def. #92 Maxime Mora (OU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Henrik Wiersholm (VA) def. Florin Bragusi (OU) 6-0, 6-4
6. Andre Biro (OU) def. Mac Styslinger (VA) 7-6, 3-6, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. #6 Ryan Shane/Luca Corinteli (VA) def. #24 Spencer Papa/Axel Alvarez Llamas (OU) 6-2
2. #7 Mac Styslinger/Thai-Son Kwiatkowski (VA) def. #46 Alex Ghilea/Andrew Harris (OU) 6-3
3. Andre Biro/Maxime Mora (OU) def. J.C. Aragone/Collin Altamirano (VA) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1,2,4,3,6)