By Ray Fink, OBU Sports Information Director
Sixteenth-ranked Oklahoma Baptist scored a 5-4 upset win over No. 12 Lewis-Clark State to win the Unaffiliated Group NAIA national qualifying tournament and an automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament.
The win didn’t come easy as two matches went to third sets, but Agustin Janssen got the decisive win at No. 4 singles to end a seven-year NAIA Tournament drought for the Bison.
“This win means so much for our program,” said first-year coach Peter McCorkle. “This match came down to two third-set tiebreaks and we proved today that we can compete with some of the best. Lewis and Clark is an excellent program and always has been under coach Kai Fong. Our men’s team has not been to the national championship since 2006, and I believe that we have a team that will do well and represent OBU in a great way. I am so impressed with the endurance and character within this team. Their perseverance through a rigorous schedule has proven that our program is becoming national contender.”
Marco Carvajal and Dario Macanovic won at No. 1 doubles, 8-3, and Carvajal rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles.
Gonzalo Garzon and Janssen won at No. 2 doubles, 8-3 and Garzon coasted to a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles.
With seven matches in the books and OBU leading 4-3, it came down to the two tiebreaks. Francisco Da Sliva narrowly lost at No. 6 singles but Janssen scored a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 victory to propel the Bison to the national tournament.
OBU 5, Lewis-Clark State 4
Singles
Marco Carvajal, OBU, def. Anders Tischer, 6-1, 6-1
Gonzalo Garzon, OBU, def. Sam Tozer, 6-0, 6-0
Lincoln Gay, LCSC, def. Dario Macanovic, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
Agustin Janssen, OBU, def. Quentin Wacquez, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6
Alberto Sanz, LCSC, def. Kolt Byerly, 6-0, 6-1
Haseeb Khan, LCSC, def. Francisco Da Silva, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6
Doubles
Carvajal/Macanovic, OBU, def. Tischer/Lowndes, 8-3
Garzon/Janssen, OBU, def. Gay/Khan, 8-3
Tozer/Warquez, LCSC, def. DaSilva/Jacob Allbritton, 8-1