Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Fall to Georgia State, 4-3
January 27, 2013 | Cowgirl Tennis
Jan. 27, 2013
ATHENS, Ga. -
Oklahoma State's women's tennis team fell just short in their first ITA Kickoff Weekend match against Georgia State, falling to the Panthers, 4-3.
Oklahoma State (1-1) fell behind early, losing two doubles matches and giving the doubles point to Georgia State. Maria Alvarez and Lorena Gheorghe defeated Jocelyn Ffriend and Linn Timmermann of Georgia State, 8-7, to earn the only doubles win of the day for the Cowgirls.
In singles, the Panthers won their first two singles matches to build their lead to 3-0. In those matches, Malika Rose fell to No. 29 Abigail Tere-Apisah in two sets while Georgia State's Whitney Byrd came back from losing 6-3 in the first set to grab the victory from senior C.C. Sardinha in three sets.
With their backs against the wall early, the Cowgirls refused to go down without a fight. Freshman Maria Alvarez came through for Oklahoma State, defeating Linn Timmermann, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Meghan Blevins earned her second singles victory of the season as well when she defeated Georgia State's Masa Grgan, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, cutting Georgia State's lead to one. Junior Kanyapat Narattana tied the score at three with her three set victory over Chaimaa Roudami.
The Panthers ended Oklahoma State's rally in the final singles match when Jocelyn Ffriend defeated Cowgirl Lorena Gheorghe, 6-4, 6-1, giving Georgia State the 4-3 victory.
The Cowgirls will have a chance to bounce back on Monday when they take on the loser of the match between Georgia and Columbia, which will take place later today.
Singles | Order of finish: 1,3,4,2,5,6
No. 29 Abigail Tere-Apisah (GSU) def. Malika Rose (OSU) 6-4,6-3
No. 89 Meghan Blevins (OSU) def. Masa Grgan (GSU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
Whitney Byrd (GSU) def. C.C. Sardinha (OSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Maria Alvarez (OSU) def. Linn Timmermann (GSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) def. Chaimaa Roudami (GSU) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
Jocelyn Ffriend (GSU) def. Lorena Gheorghe (OSU) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles | Order of finish: 2,3,1
No. 19 Masa Grgan/Abigail Tere-Apisah (GSU) def. Malika Rose/Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) 8-7 (8-6)
Whitney Byrd/Maryna Kozachecnko (GSU) def. Meghan Blevins/ Karyn Guttormsen (OSU) 8-6
Maria Alvarez/Lorena Gheorghe (OSU) def. Jocelyn Ffriend/Linn Timmermann (GSU) 8-7 (9-7)
