Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Suffer First Loss of Season
February 11, 2008 | Cowgirl Tennis
OSU got a strong outing from senior Yawna Allen as she picked up a big win over SMU's Pavi Francis in No. 2 singles action. In doubles play, Allen and teammate Nataliya Shatkovskaya battled hard, but fell to the Mustangs' Natalia Bubien and Francis, 8-6.
Cowgirl freshman Sasha Belova picked up a couple of wins on the day as she and Maryna Tkachenko won, 8-6, over SMU's Kristen Reid and Monica Neveklovska. In singles play, Belova outlasted Reid, 6-2, 7-6, 4-6.
The loss is the Cowgirl's first of the season and drops them to 3-1 on the season. OSU head coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski said he is proud of his team and the way they fought today.
“We knew coming in that SMU was going to be very tough,” said Lubicz-Majewski. “I am proud of the way our girls played. Yawna and Sasha both played really well. We just need to get more court time and that is tough right now, because we are having to travel to practice. Our girls are only going to get better as the season moves along.”
OSU will be in action next week as they travel to
SMU (5-0) 5, Oklahoma State (3-1) 2
Doubles:
1. Bubien/Francis (SMU) def. Allen/Shatkovskaya (OSU), 8-6
2. Tokarieva/Briceno (SMU) def.
3. Belova/M. Tkachenko (OSU) def. Reid/Neveklovska (SMU), 8-6
Singles:
1. Natalia Bubien (SMU) def. Iryna Tkachenko (OSU), 6-1, 6-7 (8), 6-2
2. Yawna Allen (OSU) def. Pavi Francis (SMU), 6-4, 7-6 (4)
3. Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) def. Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU), 6-1, 6-1
4. Monica Neveklovska (SMU) def. JoAnne Karaitiana (OSU), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
5. Sasha Belova (OSU) def. Kristen Reid (SMU), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 4-6
6. Nicole Briceno (SMU) def. Maryna Tkachenko (OSU), 6-2, 7-5
Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 5, 1, 4
