Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Close Out Regular Season on the Road
April 13, 2007 | Cowgirl Tennis
Oklahoma State's women's tennis team will hit the road for two matches against Big 12 powers Texas and Texas A&M to close out the 2007 regular season.
The Cowgirls (15-5, 7-2) will first face No. 39 Texas (9-8, 6-1) Saturday at noon in Austin. The squad will then travel to College Station to take on No. 20 Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1) Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
OSU is currently in fourth place in the Big 12. The top four teams in the conference receive a first-round bye in the Big 12 Championship that will be held later this month in Kansas City, All five of OSU's losses have come against teams ranked in the top-40 or better,
The Cowgirls are led in wins by Nataliya Shatkovskaya, Lauren Simmons and Marta Tsivka with 14 a piece. Shatkovskaya teams with Yawna Allen to form the Cowgirls' top doubles team. The pair has a team-best 12 wins.
Both match for both results can be linked through the live event tab at www.okstate.com.
Scouting #39 Texas (9-8, 6-1)
Texas will enter the weekend 9-8 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12. UT's lone loss in conference cam at the hands of No. 15 Baylor. The Longhorns' best win of the season came against No. 22 Arizona State. All of UT's losses have come against top-20 teams.
The Longhorns are coached by Patty Fendick-McCain who is in her second season at the helm of the program. Texas leads the all-time series 22-3.
Scouting #20 Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1)
The Aggies of Texas A&M enter this weekend 15-4 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12. TAMU's lone loss on conference play came to No. 15 Baylor. All of the Aggie's losses have come against top-20 foes.
TAMU is coached by Bobby Kleinecke who is in his 22nd season in College Station. TAMU has a slight, 12-11, lead in the all-time series.
Last Time Out
After losing the doubles point, the Cowgirls got wins from junior Yawna Allen and seniors Lauren Simmons, Jennifer Poskitt and Marta Tsivka, playing their final home game in Stillwater to beat in-state rival Oklahoma, 4-3, to win the Bedlam Bell for the second-straight season.
Big 12 Player of the Week
Lauren Simmons became the first Cowgirl of the 2007 season to be named Big 12 Player of the Week. Simmons, who won the award for the second time in her career, had an impressive week as she went 3-0 with two come-from-behind victories. OSU also became the first school of the season to sweep the weekly awards as Cowboy Oleksandr Nedovyesov won it on the men's side.
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 between 11 and 14 wins each and they all have a winning record. Three Cowgirls, Shatkovskaya, Simmons and Tsivka are tied for the team lead with 14 wins.
On the Charts
With 71 career wins, Lauren Simmons is one winsshy of jumping into the top 20 in career wins at OSU ... Tsivka has a career-winning percentage of .818 (36-8), which is the second best in the history of the program.
Big 12 Individual Titles
Currently four Cowgirls and one doubles team either lead or are tied for the lead at their position in the Big 12. Last season, the Cowgirls crowned one Big 12 Champion, Marta Tsivka (No. 5 singles).
No. 2 Singles
1. Diana Kuhl, NU 6-3
2. Yawna Allen, OSU 5-4
No. 3 Singles
1. Broosova, Baylor 6-0
Shatkovskaya, OSU 6-3
No. 4 Singles
1. Simmons, OSU 7-2
2. Jendrian, Colorado 5-2
No. 5 Singles
1. Tsivka, OSU 8-1
2. Svistum, KSU 6-2
No. 6 Singles
1. Poskitt, OSU, 8-1
2. Bielikova, Baylor 5-1
No. 2 Doubles
1. Simmons/Tkachenko 6-3
Lubinsky/Mechem, TAMU 6-0
No. 3 Doubles
1. Esposito/Sedivec, CU 5-0
2. Blagodarova/Sammons, TAMU 4-2
3. Poskitt/Tsivka, OSU 4-4
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 256-166 (.607), with all of his school-record 256 wins coming at OSU. He has also led the Cowgirls to four conference titles.
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 (15-5, 7-2) will first face No. 39 Texas (9-8, 6-1) Saturday at noon in Austin. The squad will then travel to College Station to take on No. 20 Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1) Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
OSU is currently in fourth place in the Big 12. The top four teams in the conference receive a first-round bye in the Big 12 Championship that will be held later this month in Kansas City, All five of OSU's losses have come against teams ranked in the top-40 or better,
The Cowgirls are led in wins by Nataliya Shatkovskaya, Lauren Simmons and Marta Tsivka with 14 a piece. Shatkovskaya teams with Yawna Allen to form the Cowgirls' top doubles team. The pair has a team-best 12 wins.
Both match for both results can be linked through the live event tab at www.okstate.com.
Scouting #39 Texas (9-8, 6-1)
Texas will enter the weekend 9-8 overall and 6-1 in the Big 12. UT's lone loss in conference cam at the hands of No. 15 Baylor. The Longhorns' best win of the season came against No. 22 Arizona State. All of UT's losses have come against top-20 teams.
The Longhorns are coached by Patty Fendick-McCain who is in her second season at the helm of the program. Texas leads the all-time series 22-3.
Scouting #20 Texas A&M (15-4, 5-1)
The Aggies of Texas A&M enter this weekend 15-4 overall and 5-1 in the Big 12. TAMU's lone loss on conference play came to No. 15 Baylor. All of the Aggie's losses have come against top-20 foes.
TAMU is coached by Bobby Kleinecke who is in his 22nd season in College Station. TAMU has a slight, 12-11, lead in the all-time series.
Last Time Out
After losing the doubles point, the Cowgirls got wins from junior Yawna Allen and seniors Lauren Simmons, Jennifer Poskitt and Marta Tsivka, playing their final home game in Stillwater to beat in-state rival Oklahoma, 4-3, to win the Bedlam Bell for the second-straight season.
Big 12 Player of the Week
Lauren Simmons became the first Cowgirl of the 2007 season to be named Big 12 Player of the Week. Simmons, who won the award for the second time in her career, had an impressive week as she went 3-0 with two come-from-behind victories. OSU also became the first school of the season to sweep the weekly awards as Cowboy Oleksandr Nedovyesov won it on the men's side.
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 between 11 and 14 wins each and they all have a winning record. Three Cowgirls, Shatkovskaya, Simmons and Tsivka are tied for the team lead with 14 wins.
On the Charts
With 71 career wins, Lauren Simmons is one winsshy of jumping into the top 20 in career wins at OSU ... Tsivka has a career-winning percentage of .818 (36-8), which is the second best in the history of the program.
Big 12 Individual Titles
Currently four Cowgirls and one doubles team either lead or are tied for the lead at their position in the Big 12. Last season, the Cowgirls crowned one Big 12 Champion, Marta Tsivka (No. 5 singles).
No. 2 Singles
1. Diana Kuhl, NU 6-3
2. Yawna Allen, OSU 5-4
No. 3 Singles
1. Broosova, Baylor 6-0
Shatkovskaya, OSU 6-3
No. 4 Singles
1. Simmons, OSU 7-2
2. Jendrian, Colorado 5-2
No. 5 Singles
1. Tsivka, OSU 8-1
2. Svistum, KSU 6-2
No. 6 Singles
1. Poskitt, OSU, 8-1
2. Bielikova, Baylor 5-1
No. 2 Doubles
1. Simmons/Tkachenko 6-3
Lubinsky/Mechem, TAMU 6-0
No. 3 Doubles
1. Esposito/Sedivec, CU 5-0
2. Blagodarova/Sammons, TAMU 4-2
3. Poskitt/Tsivka, OSU 4-4
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 256-166 (.607), with all of his school-record 256 wins coming at OSU. He has also led the Cowgirls to four conference titles.
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.
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