Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Wrap Up Homestand With TCU, Texas Tech
March 19, 2014 | Cowgirl Tennis
March 19, 2014
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State's women's tennis team will open conference play this weekend with matches against No. 49 TCU and 33rd-ranked Texas Tech. The 30th-ranked Cowgirls will begin the weekend slate by hosting the Horned Frogs of TCU at the Greenwood Tennis Center on Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. The team will return on Sunday, March 23, to take on Texas Tech at 1 p.m.
Fans are welcome to come out to the Greenwood Tennis Center and watch the Oklahoma State Cowboy basketball team take on Gonzaga in the NCAA men's basketball tournament on Friday afternoon before the Cowgirls take on TCU. A truck boasting a 16-by-9 LED screen will be parked in the east plaza of the Greenwood Tennis Center, and will begin showing NCAA tournament games at 3 p.m. The Cowboys are scheduled to tip off against Gonzaga at 3:40 p.m.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls are coming off of a big Bedlam victory on College MatchDay in Stillwater earlier this month. Oklahoma State knocked off the Sooners, 4-2, in a thriller at the Greenwood Tennis Center with wins on one, three, five and six singles. The match was clinched when freshman Viktoriya Lushkova defeated Oklahoma's Whitney Ritchie in an epic three-set match on one.
No. 39 Oklahoma State 4, No. 14 Oklahoma 2
March 9, 2014 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Okla.
Singles | Order of finish: 6,4,5,2,3,1 No. 1 - No. 108 Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) def. Whitney Ritchie (OU) 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(4)
No. 2 - No. 98 Hermon Brhane (OU) def. Megan McCray (OSU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0
No. 3 - Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) def. Morgan Chumney (OU) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
No. 4 - Mia Lancaster (OU) def. Katarina Adamovic (OSU) 6-2, 6-4
No. 5 - Carla Tur Mari (OSU) def. Abbi Melrose (OU) 6-1, 7-5
No. 6 - Karyn Guttormsen (OSU) def. Emma Devine (OU) 6-1, 6-3
Eyeing the Opponent
TCU is slotted at No. 49 in the latest team rankings released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs (8-7, 1-0 Big 12) have won three-straight matches, including a 5-2 win over the 21st-ranked Texas Longhorns in their conference opener in Fort Worth, Texas last Friday. Stefanie Tan is the lone Horned Frog in the ITA singles rankings, coming in at No. 53. TCU has notched a 2-5 record in matches away from home. TCU is coached by Dave Borelli, who has posted a 183-106 record in his tenure with the Horned Frogs.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders will enter Sunday's match with the Cowgirls as the 33rd-ranked team in the nation. The Red Raiders (10-6, 0-2 Big 12) have lost five of their last six matches and are coming off of a 5-2 loss to Texas last Sunday in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech is 5-5 in matches away from Lubbock. The Red Raiders are represented in the ITA singles rankings by Nikki Sanders, who is ranked No. 117. Texas Tech's Samantha Adams and Kenna Kilgo appear in the ITA doubles rankings in the 48th spot. Todd Petty is currently in his sixth season coaching the Red Raiders and has notched a 50-17 mark since taking over the program.
Matchup History
TCU holds the advantage in its all-time series with Oklahoma State, with a 9-6 advantage over the Cowgirls. The Cowgirls snagged the win in the last meeting, however, winning 4-2 in the 2013 Big 12 tournament quarterfinals to advance to the conference semifinals for the first time since 2007.
The Cowgirls lead the all-time series with the Red Raiders, 12-8. Texas Tech won the last meeting between the two teams. The then 18th-ranked Red Raiders defeated the Cowgirls in Lubbock, Texas, 6-1, in that 2013 meeting.
Cowgirls in the Rankings
Oklahoma State's women's tennis team dropped one spot to No. 30 in the latest team rankings released by the ITA on Tuesday.
No singles or doubles rankings were released this week. Viktoriya Lushkova remains at No. 83 in the ITA singles rankings after jumping 25 spots last week. The freshman has been unstoppable of late, winning her last nine matches and all seven of her matches in the top singles position for the Cowgirls.
Lushkova and senior Kanyapat Narattana emerged into the ITA doubles rankings last week. The undefeated Cowgirl tandem currently sits at No. 37.
The Mighty Fall
The Cowgirls have knocked off a top-15 opponent in each of the last three seasons, the last being the 4-2 victory over 14th-ranked Oklahoma in Stillwater earlier this month. The Cowgirls downed 6th-ranked Texas, 4-3, in Stillwater in 2012 to begin the streak. In 2013, Oklahoma State defeated No. 12 Nebraska, 5-2, in San Diego.
Around the Big 12
After one week of conference play, Kansas and Kansas State stand atop the Big 12 with 2-0 marks. Baylor and TCU are also undefeated in Big 12 play, each holding one conference win. The Texas Longhorns currently sit in the fifth spot in the conference with a 1-1 Big 12 record. Texas Tech, Iowa State and West Virginia each hold 0-2 records after the first weekend of play. Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will each begin Big 12 play this weekend.
No Trouble in Doubles
Oklahoma State has been impressive in doubles this season, taking seven of the nine total doubles points in 2014. Kanyapat Narattana and Viktoriya Lushkova have been a force for the Cowgirls on one doubles. Narattana and Lushkova have racked up seven-straight wins since teaming up last month in the Cowgirls' match against Tulsa. Karyn Guttormsen and Katarina Adamovic are also unbeaten with a 4-0 record as a tandem on three. The duo of Maria Alvarez and Carla Tur Mari has posted a 3-1 record on two.
Pair of Streaks
The Oklahoma State women's tennis roster boasts a pair of Cowgirls on a seven-match winning streak or greater. Freshman Viktoriya Lushkova has notched nine-straight triumphs, while freshman Carla Tur Mari has posted seven-straight wins.
Top Ten and Counting
Cowgirl Kanyapat Narattana's huge fall season propelled the senior into the top ten in the Oklahoma State record books for both career singles and doubles wins in the Big 12 era. Narattana currently holds 64 career singles victories, good for seventh in the record book. Narattana has also notched 64 doubles wins during her time in Stillwater, and sits in eighth place.
Nifty 50
With the win over Minnesota last month, Cowgirl tennis coach Chris Young notched his 50th win since taking over the reins. Young is the fourth women's tennis coach in Oklahoma State history to reach 50 wins while with the program.
Fantastic Freshmen
Freshmen Megan McCray, Carla Tur Mari and Viktoriya Lushkova have been outstanding for the Cowgirls since arriving in Stillwater. McCray has notched a 16-8 overall singles record this far into her freshman season. Lushkova has posted ten singles wins and ten doubles wins since joining the team before the spring season. Tur Mari has racked up a 18-10 overall singles record in her first season as a Cowgirl, with 11 of those 17 wins coming in straight-sets.
Scheduling Tough
Much like last season, Oklahoma State's women's tennis schedule is loaded with quality opponents. The 2014 Cowgirl tennis schedule features 23 potential opponents, and 17 of those teams appear in the latest ITA team rankings. Oklahoma State has 12 guaranteed matches with ranked teams, and appearances at the ITA Kickoff Weekend and 2014 Blue-Gray Tennis Classic provide potential matchups with No. 21 Notre Dame, 26th-ranked Arizona State, No. 12 Alabama, No. 23 Auburn, 22nd-ranked Rice, No. 53 Tulane and No. 36 Yale. The Big 12 is packed with top-notch competition once again this season, with eight of the conference's ten teams currently ranked.
