No. 8 MT Ends Oklahoma State’s Home Win Streak, 4-1

Thursday, March 26

Stillwater, Okla.

5 p.m.

Baylor

Oklahoma State

No. 8 MT Ends Oklahoma State’s Home Win Streak, 4-1

3/26/2026 9:50:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

BU’s Van Schalkwyk earns 10th consecutive singles win

STILLWATER, Okla. – Baylor men's tennis (14-7) secured a decisive 4-1 victory over Oklahoma State (14-7) on Thursday at the Greenwood Tennis Center, snapping the Cowboys' 11-0 home win streak. The Bears clinched the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions and followed up with wins in three singles matches.

Baylor secured the doubles point with wins on courts two and one. Luc Koenig and Connor Van Schalkwyk triumphed at No. 2 doubles with a 6-2 victory over Derek Pham and Charlie Valentine. The No. 1 doubles team of No. 69 Alexandru Chirita and Zsombor Velcz clinched the point with a 7-5 win against Nicolas Kobelt and Aaron Williams.

In singles, Baylor extended its lead with No. 26 Van Schalkwyk's 6-3, 6-3 win over Pham at No. 3 singles, marking his 10th consecutive singles match victory. No. 14 Devin Badenhorst added another point for the Bears at No. 1 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Alessio Basile. The Cowboys responded with a win at No. 5 singles as Williams overcame Koenig 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The tense match continued at No. 6 singles, where Louis Bowden edged Gokpinar in a tight three-setter, 1-6, 6-0, 7-6(6). The matches at No. 2 and No. 4 singles were left unfinished, with No. 39 Velcz and No. 104 Chirita both in narrow third sets against their opponents, Kobelt and Bracks, respectively.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH MICHAEL WOODSON
"I mean, what a Big 12 battle. I feel like I knew it was gonna be tough. We knew the conditions were going to be really hard. I think this is a super confident team at home. They were 11-0 going into this match at home, so we understood the test. It felt like it was going to be difficult.

"I think we got a little bit of a slow start in doubles with our energy, particularly at 3. But we did a good job of staying in it. Obviously we got ahead and stretched the lead at 2, and we were able to just keep battling at 1. I thought Alex did a great job with his energy, just kind of lifting us when we were even, and then 2 hung around long enough for 1 to get the win. So it was obviously massive to get the doubles point, we got down on. I think 5 courts a break early in singles, that's not good enough and so then it got hard.

"Fortunately, three guys were able to turn it, win their sets. You know, and then next thing you know, all the guys that lost the first set won the 2nd, that's a great effort from the guys, super happy with what they did there, and how they responded to the adversity, real tip of the cap to Alex. I thought he was down and out, and his ability to hang around, I think really helped Z and Louis in difficult positions.

"Throughout their third sets and then you know I wouldn't say it was a race to the finish because it felt like anybody can win those matches, but the 3 guys staying out there throughout really applies a lot of pressure on the Oklahoma State guys and it keeps our guys just a little bit more relaxed feeling like, you know, one of us, only one of us has to win, obviously a heck of an effort from Louis to get it done at the end, that guy is 14-2 in dual matches and so great win from him. He played to win, I thought, which was really good to see. These guys earned it. It was an absolute war. We're exhausted, but it's good to come away with a victory."

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Alexandru Chirita/Zsombor Velcz (BU) def. Nicolas Kobelt/Aaron Williams (OSU) 7-5
2. Luc Koenig/Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Derek Pham/Charlie Valentine (OSU) 6-2
3. Devin Badenhorst/Calvin Baierl (BU) vs. Ian Bracks/Haydar Gokpinar (OSU) 4-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 1

Singles
1. #14 Devin Badenhorst (BU) def. Alessio Basile (OSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. #39 Zsombor Velcz (BU) vs. Nicolas Kobelt (OSU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-6 (unfinished)
3. #26 Connor Van Schalkwyk (BU) def. Derek Pham (OSU) 6-3, 6-3
4. #104 Alexandru Chirita (BU) vs. Ian Bracks (OSU) 2-6, 6-4, 5-6 (unfinished)
5. Aaron Williams (OSU) def. Luc Koenig (BU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Louis Bowden (BU) def. Haydar Gokpinar (OSU) 1-6, 6-0, 7-6(6)
Order of finish: 3, 1, 5, 6

WHAT'S NEXT
Looking ahead, Baylor return to Waco from its lengthy time on the road with a doubleheader, hosting No. 12 UCF on Sunday, March 29 at noon for Hounds at the Hurd and following against Creighton at 6 p.m. CT at the Hurd Tennis Center.

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