Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Rice
Cowgirl Netters Lose Tough Match to Rice
January 29, 2011 | Cowgirl Tennis
Jan. 29, 2011
WACO, Texas – The No. 64 Oklahoma State women's tennis team fell in a heartbreaking loss to No. 48 Rice Saturday in the opening round of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend, as the Cowgirls dropped a dual-deciding third set in the last match finished to give the Owls a 4-3 victory.
“I love the way our girls competed today,” coach Young said. “It was a great college match and it will help us get better. Several girls are getting a chance due to others being out, and it is only going to make us better when we have everyone.”
OSU fell behind early, 1-0, after doubles play as the Owls won No. 1 and 2 doubles to capture the team point. Cowgirls C.C. Sardinha and Malika Rose had a 7-2 lead at the No. 3 spot, but their match was suspended as the doubles point was decided.
After the first three singles matches were completed, the Cowgirls had suffered losses at the Nos. 6 and 1 spots and earned a two-set win from Malika Rose, now 3-0 in dual play, at No. 5.
Up 3-1 at that point, Rice needed only one more singles win to win the dual.
The Cowgirls, however, battled back to win two hard-fought victories from Kanyapat Narattana and C.C. Sardinha at Nos. 4 and 2 singles, respectively.
After the Cowgirls tied the match at 3-3, the No. 3 singles match was all that remained, where senior Nataliya Shatkovskaya faced Rice's Jessica Jackson. Although the match went to a dual-deciding third set, OSU fell just short in its upset bid as Jackson claimed a 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-3 win to seal the victory for the Owls.
Oklahoma State now turns its attention to Sunday's consolation matchup with fourth-seeded and 55th-ranked Alabama.
“This is a national tournament and our regional is exceptionally tough,” Young said. “Both matches played today came down to the last court, so we expect another battle with 'Bama tomorrow.”
The Crimson Tide, who has three singles players and two doubles teams ranked nationally, led No. 3 Baylor, 3-1, before dropping three-straight matches to give the Bears the win.
The first serve Sunday is schedule for 11 a.m. at the Baylor-Hurd Tennis Building. Live stats are available at http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-tennis/11-indoorqualifier.html.
No. 48 Rice 4, No. 64 Oklahoma State 3
DOUBLES | Order of finish: 1, 2
No. 1 - Ana Guzman/Rebekka Hänle (RICE) def. Kanyapat Narattana/Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU), 8-2
No. 2 - Dominique Harmath/Alex Rasch (RICE) def. Sarah Meghoufel/Leyla Simmons (OSU), 8-3
No. 3 - C.C. Sardinha/Malika Rose (OSU) vs. Jessica Jackson/Daniella Trigo (RICE), 7-2, susp.
SINGLES | Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 4, 2, 3*
No.1 - #114 Rebekka Hänle (RICE) def. Sarah Meghoufel (OSU), 7-6(3), 6-3
No.2 - C.C. Sardinha (OSU) def. #101 Dominique Harmath (RICE), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 3 - Jessica Jackson (RICE) def. Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU), 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 - Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) def. Ana Guzman (RICE), 6-4, 7-6(2)
No. 5 - Malika Rose (OSU) def. Daniella Trigo (RICE), 6-0, 6-4
No. 6 - Kim Anicete (RICE) def. Allison Burckhartt (OSU), 6-2, 6-3
Players Mentioned
