Oklahoma State University Athletics
Freshman Serves Up For Cowgirls
May 08, 2013 | Cowgirl Tennis
May 8, 2013
By Kelli Grashel
OSU Media Relations
Oklahoma State's Maria Alvarez might be the youngest member of the women's tennis team, but you couldn't tell by watching her on the court.
Alvarez, a freshman from Zarazoga, Spain, is a rising star in the OSU women's tennis program. Starting off at the ripe age of 8, Alvarez started what would turn out to be a very successful tennis career.
She has secured a spot as the seventh winningest freshman in school history with 23 total victories. Alvarez has the fourth best win total as a freshman in the Big 12 era, following Katya Kolodynska, Iryna Tkanchecnko and Marketa Chmelora. Alvarez is the 10th freshman in school history to reach 20 overall wins in a single season.
In high school at IES Francisco Grande, she won an International Tennis Federation doubles tournament in Portugal and was the two-time runner-up for the Spanish doubles championship. Assistant coach Jamea Jackson first watched her play at this championship.
“We had talked to her before the national championships. She chose to come here and I know she had a lot of other offers,” head coach Chris Young said. “She was just a girl that had a lot of characteristics that we wanted in our program. She's a hard worker and she just brings her best every day. She's really competitive and gives her best effort.”
As far as Alvarez's success this season, Young says he is not surprised by the results so far, but he does expect to see more success in her future.
“I think she is going to be a great player for us who is always going to give a consistent effort and each year she is going to continue to improve and I think she could be one of the better players that we've had here by the time she's done,” Young said.
The road to success has not been easily traveled by Alvarez as she faced many challenges along the way.
“It's hard, especially for me, because I couldn't speak English at the beginning. My older teammates were very helpful at the beginning. I feel like we are a great group and I love my team,” Alvarez said.
Despite her hardships, Alvarez has improved in many ways both on and off the court.
“I think for her she has really improved in a lot of ways. I think her confidence has improved,” Young said, “When she first came she played defensive. Now she is really more aggressive and she is attacking the ball more so I think she's really learned to put away points and be aggressive.”
Her fall season was highlighted by defeating Julia Jamieson of Illinois, 7-5, to win the “Charlie” singles flight at the United States Air Force Academy Invitational.
However, her favorite memory was a different moment this season.
“My favorite memory from the season so far was the Big 12 semi-finals when we won. It was crazy,” Alvarez said.
In the Big 12 tournament, the team made it to the conference championship match for the first time since 2003. After defeating fourth-seed Baylor, they upset top-seeded Baylor in the conference semifinals before falling to Texas in the championship match.
In the upset over Baylor, senior C.C. Sardinha and Alvarez clinched the point with an 8-6 victory on doubles court three. In singles play, Alvarez pulled it out for the Cowgirls in the fifth spot, defeating Alex Leatu in straight sets.
The season isn't over yet as the Cowgirls head to Los Angeles on Saturday to compete in the regional rounds of the NCAA tournament for the 15th time in school history.
The Cowgirls (15-8) enter this weekend as the 28th-ranked team in the nation, according to team rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
OSU will face No. 39 Long Beach State in the first round on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT. If they win, the Cowgirls will return to face the winner of Saturday afternoon's match between top seed UCLA and fourth-seeded Army on Sunday at noon PT.
“We are too excited for the NCAA tournament and especially to go to L.A,” Alvarez said. “We are ready for it.”
-OSU-
