Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Netters Set for Pair of In-State Showdowns
March 23, 2007 | Cowgirl Tennis
The 48th-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team will look for its 10th win of the season as they take on a pair of instate schools this weekend.
The Cowgirls will travel to Tulsa Saturday to take on the 37th-ranked Golden Hurricanes at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center at 2 p.m. OSU will then head back to Stillwater to face the East Central Tigers Sunday at the DeBois Tennis Center at 1 p.m.
Oklahoma State's singles lineup features balance as all of the starting six have either seven or eight dual wins. Nataliya Shatkovskaya and Marta Tsivka lead the way with eight wins. Tsivka also paces the squad with an .800 winning percentage. Yawna Allen, Lauren Simmons and Jennifer Poskitt are not far behind with seven wins a piece.
In doubles play, Allen and Shatkovskaya team to form OSU's top doubles tandem. The duo has picked up seven dual wins this spring and has 10 wins this school year.
The Cowgirls are coming off a, 4-1, win over Utah Thursday that gave head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski his 250th-career win. All of his wins have come at OSU and are a school record.
Scouting #37 Tulsa (14-3)
The Golden Hurricanes are 14-3 this season and have notched three wins against ranked foes. They are also 2-0 against the Big 12 having defeated Kansas and Kansas State. All of their three loses have come against opponents ranked by the ITA. TU is coached by Dean Offord who is in his second season with the program.
In singles play, Agostona Santoro leads the team with 13 victories. Santie Delport is second on the team as she has recorded an 11-4 mark splitting time between the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots. The Golden Hurricanes are also an outstanding doubles squad as each of their doubles teams have registered at least 11 wins this spring.
OSU leads the all-time series between the two schools 13-7, including a 5-2 win in Stillwater last season. TU and OSU have four common opponents so far this season, Kansas, Oral Roberts, UALR and Indiana State. The Golden Hurricanes outscored those opponents 25-7, while the Cowgirls have a 20-4 advantage. However, TU played Oral Roberts twice, giving them the edge in points scored. OSU and TU both participated in the Central Region Championships this fall with OSU owning a 4-1 advantage in head-to-head singles matches.
Scouting East Central
The East Central Tigers are currently 10- 1 this season and are coached by Charlie Hibbard. East Central is located in Ada, Okla,. and they are a Division II school who plays out of the Lone Star Conference. East Central will play at Tulsa on Friday.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls picked up wins from Yawna Allen, Nataliya Shatkovskaya, Marta Tsivka and Lauren Simmons to defeat Utah, 4-1, in Salt Lake City. The win was OSU's first of the road win of the year and the victory gave head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski his 250th-career win.
Balanced Lineup
Part of the reason for OSU's fast start in 2007 is due to the consistency and balance Lubicz-Majewski has gotten from his single's lineup. Tkachenko, Allen and Shatkovskaya started every dual at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles, respectively. They only changes have come at the the bottom of the lineup where Simmons, Tsivka and Poskitt have rotated somewhat this season. Poskitt and Simmons has started every dual, where Jessica Collins replaced Tsivka in one match.
Not only has Lubicz-Majewski consistently used the same singles lineup, he has also gotten balanced results. All of the six starters have either seven or eight wins each and they all have a winning record. Shatkovskaya and Tsivka each have eight wins, while Tkachenko, Allen, Simmons and Poskitt all have seven wins apiece.
More on the streak
As stated already, OSU's 6-0 start this season is the best under Lubicz-Majewski and also the most wins to open a season since the 1988-89 season. Overall , OSU best start came in 1980 when the Cowgirls started the 1980-81 season 18-0 under Ike Groce. They would finish the season 29-2 to win the program's first Big 8 crown. Overall OSU has started the season with at least five wins eight times and each season they have gone on to win the conference title.
Cowgirl Returners
The Cowgirl lineup features a wealth of experience as head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski's squad features seven returning letter winners. Junior Iryna Tkachenko, the Cowgirl's No. 1 player a year ago, will look to regain the form that made her an All-Big 12 selection her freshman season.
Senior Lauren Simmons, who split time between No. 2 and No. 3 singles last season, also returns to the Cowgirls. Simmons was an Academic All-American last season, as well as a Big 12 Player of the Week selection.
The Cowgirls also return another former Big 12 Player of the Week in Yawna Allen. The junior spent most of the 2006 spring season at the No. 4 spot.
Marta Tsivka, the Big 12 Champion at No. 5 singles last season, also returns for her senior season.
Also returning are senior Jennifer Poskitt, junior Jessica Collins and sophomore Zuzanna Osinska. The trio all split time at No. 6 singles last season, with Poskitt leading the way with a 7-4 record.
Newcomers
The only scholarship newcomer this season is freshman Natalia Shatkovskaya. The talented newcomer hails from Minsk, Belarus. The Cowgirls only had one scholarship available after losing only Zana Masnic from last season's squad. Masnic exhausted her eligibility in the spring of 2006 and left the program with over 50 career singles victories and 40 doubles wins.
Head Coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski
Head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski is entering his 18th season leading the Cowgirl tennis program. His 18-year tenure is the longest in the program's history and is currently third among active coaches at Oklahoma State, trailing only men's tennis coach James Wadley and men's track and field coach Dick Weis.
Lubicz-Majewski has a career record of 250-164 (.604), with all of his school-record 250 wins coming at OSU. He has also led the Cowgirls to four conference titles.
New Assistance
Lubicz-Majewski will have a new assistant coach this season in former Cowboy tennis star Mark Van Elden. Van Elden replaces Dominika Olszewska, who assisted Lubicz-Majewski for three seasons. The Australia natives primary focus will be on recruiting.
Van Elden played at Oklahoma State from 2003-05 under Cowboy head coach James Wadley and was an All-Big 12 selection and NCAA invitee in each of his three seasons in Stillwater.
Van Elden won 59 matches during his Cowboy career and was ranked as high as 13th in the ITA rankings. The Cowboys won 55 matches during his stay in Stillwater and hosted an NCAA Regional in 2005.
Successful in the Classroom
Over the summer, the Cowgirl tennis program was recognized by the ITA for its hard work in the classroom during the 2005-06 school year. The team was named an Academic All-American team for the fourth straight season and Zana Masnic, Lauren Simmons and Zuzanna Osinska were each named Academic All-Americans.
ITA Women's Hall of Fame
Former Cowgirl star Lori McNeil was inducted into the ITA Women's Hall of Fame Sept. 15 in Williamsburg, Va. McNeil was an All-American in 1982 and was a three-time conference champion while a part of the Cowgirl program. McNeil went on to a successful 19-year pro career that featured 10 singles championships and 32 doubles titles. She also made a memorable run to the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1994 and was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic team in 2004
The Cowgirls will travel to Tulsa Saturday to take on the 37th-ranked Golden Hurricanes at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center at 2 p.m. OSU will then head back to Stillwater to face the East Central Tigers Sunday at the DeBois Tennis Center at 1 p.m.
Oklahoma State's singles lineup features balance as all of the starting six have either seven or eight dual wins. Nataliya Shatkovskaya and Marta Tsivka lead the way with eight wins. Tsivka also paces the squad with an .800 winning percentage. Yawna Allen, Lauren Simmons and Jennifer Poskitt are not far behind with seven wins a piece.
In doubles play, Allen and Shatkovskaya team to form OSU's top doubles tandem. The duo has picked up seven dual wins this spring and has 10 wins this school year.
The Cowgirls are coming off a, 4-1, win over Utah Thursday that gave head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski his 250th-career win. All of his wins have come at OSU and are a school record.
Scouting #37 Tulsa (14-3)
The Golden Hurricanes are 14-3 this season and have notched three wins against ranked foes. They are also 2-0 against the Big 12 having defeated Kansas and Kansas State. All of their three loses have come against opponents ranked by the ITA. TU is coached by Dean Offord who is in his second season with the program.
In singles play, Agostona Santoro leads the team with 13 victories. Santie Delport is second on the team as she has recorded an 11-4 mark splitting time between the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots. The Golden Hurricanes are also an outstanding doubles squad as each of their doubles teams have registered at least 11 wins this spring.
OSU leads the all-time series between the two schools 13-7, including a 5-2 win in Stillwater last season. TU and OSU have four common opponents so far this season, Kansas, Oral Roberts, UALR and Indiana State. The Golden Hurricanes outscored those opponents 25-7, while the Cowgirls have a 20-4 advantage. However, TU played Oral Roberts twice, giving them the edge in points scored. OSU and TU both participated in the Central Region Championships this fall with OSU owning a 4-1 advantage in head-to-head singles matches.
Scouting East Central
The East Central Tigers are currently 10- 1 this season and are coached by Charlie Hibbard. East Central is located in Ada, Okla,. and they are a Division II school who plays out of the Lone Star Conference. East Central will play at Tulsa on Friday.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls picked up wins from Yawna Allen, Nataliya Shatkovskaya, Marta Tsivka and Lauren Simmons to defeat Utah, 4-1, in Salt Lake City. The win was OSU's first of the road win of the year and the victory gave head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski his 250th-career win.
Balanced Lineup
Part of the reason for OSU's fast start in 2007 is due to the consistency and balance Lubicz-Majewski has gotten from his single's lineup. Tkachenko, Allen and Shatkovskaya started every dual at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles, respectively. They only changes have come at the the bottom of the lineup where Simmons, Tsivka and Poskitt have rotated somewhat this season. Poskitt and Simmons has started every dual, where Jessica Collins replaced Tsivka in one match.
Not only has Lubicz-Majewski consistently used the same singles lineup, he has also gotten balanced results. All of the six starters have either seven or eight wins each and they all have a winning record. Shatkovskaya and Tsivka each have eight wins, while Tkachenko, Allen, Simmons and Poskitt all have seven wins apiece.
More on the streak
As stated already, OSU's 6-0 start this season is the best under Lubicz-Majewski and also the most wins to open a season since the 1988-89 season. Overall , OSU best start came in 1980 when the Cowgirls started the 1980-81 season 18-0 under Ike Groce. They would finish the season 29-2 to win the program's first Big 8 crown. Overall OSU has started the season with at least five wins eight times and each season they have gone on to win the conference title.
Cowgirl Returners
The Cowgirl lineup features a wealth of experience as head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski's squad features seven returning letter winners. Junior Iryna Tkachenko, the Cowgirl's No. 1 player a year ago, will look to regain the form that made her an All-Big 12 selection her freshman season.
Senior Lauren Simmons, who split time between No. 2 and No. 3 singles last season, also returns to the Cowgirls. Simmons was an Academic All-American last season, as well as a Big 12 Player of the Week selection.
The Cowgirls also return another former Big 12 Player of the Week in Yawna Allen. The junior spent most of the 2006 spring season at the No. 4 spot.
Marta Tsivka, the Big 12 Champion at No. 5 singles last season, also returns for her senior season.
Also returning are senior Jennifer Poskitt, junior Jessica Collins and sophomore Zuzanna Osinska. The trio all split time at No. 6 singles last season, with Poskitt leading the way with a 7-4 record.
Newcomers
The only scholarship newcomer this season is freshman Natalia Shatkovskaya. The talented newcomer hails from Minsk, Belarus. The Cowgirls only had one scholarship available after losing only Zana Masnic from last season's squad. Masnic exhausted her eligibility in the spring of 2006 and left the program with over 50 career singles victories and 40 doubles wins.
Head Coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski
Head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski is entering his 18th season leading the Cowgirl tennis program. His 18-year tenure is the longest in the program's history and is currently third among active coaches at Oklahoma State, trailing only men's tennis coach James Wadley and men's track and field coach Dick Weis.
Lubicz-Majewski has a career record of 250-164 (.604), with all of his school-record 250 wins coming at OSU. He has also led the Cowgirls to four conference titles.
New Assistance
Lubicz-Majewski will have a new assistant coach this season in former Cowboy tennis star Mark Van Elden. Van Elden replaces Dominika Olszewska, who assisted Lubicz-Majewski for three seasons. The Australia natives primary focus will be on recruiting.
Van Elden played at Oklahoma State from 2003-05 under Cowboy head coach James Wadley and was an All-Big 12 selection and NCAA invitee in each of his three seasons in Stillwater.
Van Elden won 59 matches during his Cowboy career and was ranked as high as 13th in the ITA rankings. The Cowboys won 55 matches during his stay in Stillwater and hosted an NCAA Regional in 2005.
Successful in the Classroom
Over the summer, the Cowgirl tennis program was recognized by the ITA for its hard work in the classroom during the 2005-06 school year. The team was named an Academic All-American team for the fourth straight season and Zana Masnic, Lauren Simmons and Zuzanna Osinska were each named Academic All-Americans.
ITA Women's Hall of Fame
Former Cowgirl star Lori McNeil was inducted into the ITA Women's Hall of Fame Sept. 15 in Williamsburg, Va. McNeil was an All-American in 1982 and was a three-time conference champion while a part of the Cowgirl program. McNeil went on to a successful 19-year pro career that featured 10 singles championships and 32 doubles titles. She also made a memorable run to the semifinals of Wimbledon in 1994 and was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic team in 2004
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
