Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 57 Aggies Top No. 62 Cowgirls 5-2
March 25, 2006 | Cowgirl Tennis
“They really played well. You have to give Texas A&M credit,” said head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski. “They deserved it.”
The Cowgirls (6-6, 2-2) were sent scrambling when Iryna Tkachenko fell ill just prior to the match. Despite the last minute adjustments, the Cowgirls did something they hadn't done in seven matches, they won the doubles point.
The duo of Zana Masnic and Yawna Allen moved up from their regular No. 2 position and did not skip a beat. The tandem defeated Texas A&M's Tiffany Clifford and Sarah Foster, 8-3, at the No. 1 slot.
The Cowgirls then clinched the doubles point at the No. 3 slot. Marta Tsivka, who teams with Tkachenko at No. 1 doubles, paired with Jennifer Poskitt to defeat Anna Blagodarova and Seva Iwinski 8-4.
The lone loss for the Cowgirls came at the No. 2 position. Lauren Simmons and Zuzanna Osinska moved up from No. 3 doubles to take an early 3-0 lead against No. 35 Anna Lubinsky and Nicki Mechem. The Texas A&M tandem fought back to take a 7-5 lead. Osinska then nailed an amazing behind the back shot to keep the duo alive and move the score to 7-6. However, Texas A&M won the final game to win the match 8-6.
The Aggies quickly evened up the score at No. 4 singles when Allen was injured early in the second set and could not continue the match against Mechem.
Texas A&M took the lead for good at No. 1 singles. Tkachenko returned to the tennis courts but lost the first set 6-0 to No. 47 Lubinsky. The sophomore battled tough in the second set but eventually fell 6-3.
At No. 5 singles, Tsivka was beaten by Clifford in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. The loss snapped the junior's eight match win streak.
The Aggies clinched the match at No. 2 singles where Masnic lost to Foster 7-5, 6-0. At No. 6 singles, Poskitt was beaten by Marisa Driss in a close match 4-6, 6-3, 10-7.
The Cowgirls lone win in singles action came at the No. 3 position. Simmons lost the first set to Blagodarova 6-2. The junior fought hard and won the last two sets 7-5, 10-8.
Oklahoma State will host the No. 15-ranked Texas Longhorns (9-8, 4-0) on Sunday at 10 a.m., at the DeBois Tennis Center in Stillwater. The Longhorns beat Oklahoma, 6-1, in Norman on Saturday.
No. 57 Texas A&M 5, No. 62 Oklahoma State 2
Singles
No. 1 #47 Anna Lubinsky (TAMU) def. Iryna Tkachenko (OSU); 6-0, 6-3
No. 2 Sarah Foster (TAMU) def. Zana Masnic (OSU); 7-5, 6-0
No. 3 Lauren Simmons (OSU) def. Anna Blagodarova (TAMU); 2-6, 7-5, 10-8
No. 4 Nicki Mechem (TAMU) def. Yawna Allen (OSU); INF DF; 6-2, 2-0
No. 5 Tiffany Clifford (TAMU) def. Marta Tsivka (OSU); 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 Marisa Driss (TAMU) def. Jennifer Poskitt (OSU); 4-6, 6-3, 10-7
Doubles
No. 1 Masnic/Allen (OSU) def. Clifford/Foster (TAMU); 8-3
No. 2 #35 Lubinsky/Mechem (TAMU) def. Simmons/Osinska (OSU); 8-6
No. 3 Poskitt/Tsivka (OSU) def. Blagodarova/ Seva Iwinski (TAMU); 8-4
Order of finish: D1, D3, D2, S4, S1, S5, S2, S6, S3
