ATHENS, GA. NC State’s 2022-23 team season came to an end Saturday afternoon in Athens, Georgia.
The No. 25 Wolfpack dropped a tough battle to Oklahoma, 4-2.
With the loss, NC State finishes the team campaign 15-10 overall.
The Wolfpack took the doubles point from the Sooners and tied the score midway through the singles, but dropped some late matches.
Oklahoma is now 3-1 all-time versus NC State, making their 13th trip to the NCAA tournament in school history.
Quick reaction from HC Kyle Spencer after the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/tR9mgBUl6M
— NC State Men’s Tennis 🐺🎾 (@PackMensTennis) May 6, 2023
Doubles (NC State 1, Oklahoma 0)
NC State took the doubles point, winning on courts three and two over the Sooners.
The No. 3 duo of Fons Van Sambeek and Braden Shick picked up where they left off at the ACC tournament, getting a quick win to set the tone.
Van Sambeek and Shick jumped out to a 3-1 lead against Siphos Montsi and Jordan Hasson and never looked back. Van Sambeek and Shick won 6-3, extending their winning streak to three.
On court two, Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli got back in the win column, knocking off Alex Martinez/Justin Schlageter, 6-2. Like their counterparts on court three, Catry and Staeheli jumped out to a big lead early, going up 3-0 over Oklahoma.
The momentum never stopped as the All-ACC second team duo won their 10th match as a duo.
Singles (Oklahoma 4, NC State 1)
Four members of the Pack – Catry, Damien Salvestre, Shick, Joe Wayand – all dropped their first sets, giving the team an uphill battle from the jump.
Staeheli and Van Sambeek won their first sets to keep the Pack in the fight. Van Sambeek earned the one singles point for NC State, defeating Nathan Han in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Staeheli split the first two sets with Alex Martinez, forcing a third and decisive set.
That was also the case on court three between Damien Salvestre and Siphos Montsi.
Staeheli, once down 3-0 in the third, battled back to take a 4-3 lead. Early in the third set versus Montsi, Salvestre went down with an injury, but returned to the court. Montsi, though, defeated Salvestre, which turned out to be the point that clinched the win for the Sooners.
Oklahoma won in straight sets in the No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at NC State University Athletics…