Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Netters Defeat Rice, 4-3
February 05, 2007 | Cowgirl Tennis
The 45th-ranked Cowgirl tennis team edged out No. 64 Rice (2-3), 4-3, on Sunday at the
The Cowgirls found themselves down early when they lost the doubles point to the Owls. The lone win in doubles for OSU came at the No. 1 slot where Yawna Allen and Natalia Shatkovskaya stayed unbeaten on the year by downing Tiffany Lee and Christine Dao, 8-4.
In singles play, head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski got a strong showing from the top of his lineup for the second-straight day.
Shatkovskaya, playing at No. 3 singles, quickly put away Tiffany Lee, 6-1, 6-1. The freshman has made quite an impact in her first two matches as she has only lost a total of six games in her first two outings.
Allen looked impressive as she gave the Cowgirls the lead after defeating Christine Dao, 6-2, 6-3, at the No. 2 slot.
The Cowgirls pushed the lead to 3-1 after junior Iryna Tkachenko beat Julie Chao in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. The former All-Big 12 honoree is off to a strong start in 2007, winning both her matches easily in straight sets.
After two matches, O-State has yet to suffer a lose in the top three of its lineup and has only surrendered one set in six matches.
Rice stayed alive with a win at No. 4 singles as Cowgirl senior Lauren Simmons fell to Dominique Karas, 7-5, 6-1.
Senior Jennifer Poskitt looked strong early at No. 5 singles as she took her first set against Rebecca Lin, 6-4. Lin bounced back to even the dual by winning the next two sets, 6-1, 6-2.
The dual came down to No. 6 singles where Marta Tsivka, playing in her first match for the Cowgirls this spring, took on Emily Braid. OSU looked like they might be in trouble after the senior dropped the first set, 6-4. Tsivka, who the Big 12 Championship at No. 5 singles last season, cruised in the second set, 6-2, to force a decisive third set. The final set went back and fourth with Tsivka pulling out a, 6-4, win to give O-State the victory.
No. 45 OSU (2-0) 4, No. 64 Rice (2-3) 3
2/4/07
Singles
No. 1- Tkachenko (OSU) def. Chao (Rice); 6-3, 6-3
No. 2- Allen (OSU) def. Dao (Rice); 6-2, 6-3
No. 3- Shatkovskaya (OSU) def. Lee (Rice); 6-1, 6-1
No. 4- Karas (Rice) def. Simmons (OSU); 7-5, 6-1
No. 5- Lin (Rice) def. Poskitt; 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
No. 6- Tsivka (OSU) def. Braid (Rice); 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
No. 1- Allen/Shatkovskaya (OSU) def. Lee/Chao (Rice); 8-4
No. 2- Karas/Lin (Rice) def. Simmons/Tkachenko (OSU); 8-5
No.3 – Braid/Dao (Rice) def. Poskitt/Tsivka (OSU); 8-6
