Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Fall in Close Match Against Kansas, 4-3
March 19, 2005 | Cowgirl Tennis
“We really felt like this was a match that we could win,” said head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski. “Some things didn't go our way, but we still have to respond as a team and try harder. We fought through adversity today, but unfortunately we came up a little short.”
The Cowgirls (4-8, 1-4) were swept in doubles for the second straight match. At the top position, freshmen Iryna Tkachenko and Jana Kubicikova led 4-1 before an injury default caused the tandem to forfeit the match.
Kansas (4-9, 3-2) cruised to an 8-3 victory at No. 2 doubles and finished the sweep by winning at the No. 3 slot, 9-7.
Due to the injury to Kubicikova, the Cowgirls bumped each of their singles players up one position to fill all slots.
“Our No. 3 through No. 6 singles were playing out of position today but performed very well,” Lubicz-Majewski said. “Lauren and Jennifer picked up fairly good wins. Sandra and Jessica were put in position to compete and played very hard.”
At No. 5 singles, sophomore Jennifer Poskitt quickly dispatched Ashley Filberth in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Sophomore Lauren Simmons followed suit at No. 3, downing Brittany Brown, 6-1, 6-3.
Kansas tied the match score at 2-2 with a win at No. 2 singles.
No. 93 Tkachenko quickly responded, defeating Elizaveta Avdeeva at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4. The win is Tkachenko's seventh in a row. She is currently 11-1 on the year.
The Jayhawks sealed the match with wins at the No. 6 and 4 singles positions, respectively. Freshman Jessica Collins took her bout with Lauren Hommell to a third set before falling 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the matches deciding dual.
“Kansas is a quality opponent and was able to beat us today,” Lubicz-Majewski said. “I am proud of our girls for not giving up and am confident that if we are put in a similar situation in the future, our luck will be reversed.”
The Cowgirls return to action on March 26 when they face Notre Dame at the DeBois Tennis Center in Stillwater at 1 p.m.
Singles
1. No. 93 Iryna Tkachenko (OSU) def. Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Christine Skoda (KU) def. Zana Masnic (OSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Lauren Simmons (OSU) def. Brittany Brown (KU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Lauren Hommell (KU) def. Jessica Collins (OSU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
5. Jennifer Poskitt (OSU) def. Ashley Filberth (KU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Stephanie Smith (KU) def. Sandra Blajer (OSU) 7-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. Brown/Hommell (KU) def. Jana Kubicikova/Tkachenko (OSU) 1-4, inj. default
2. Filberth/Skoda (KU) def. Collins/Simmons (OSU) 8-3
3. Luiza Loureiro/Avdeeva (KU) def. Blajer/Masnic (OSU) 9-7
