Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Texas
Cowgirls Outlast Longhorns in Austin
April 13, 2014 | Cowgirl Tennis
April 13, 2014
AUSTIN, Texas -
Oklahoma State's women's tennis team defeated the 22nd-ranked Texas Longhorns, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center in Austin, Texas. The win marked only the second time in program history that a Cowgirl tennis team has come up with a victory in Austin, and the first since 1989.
“This is a great win for our team,” Cowgirl tennis coach Chris Young said. “It's never easy to win in Austin. Today was a great battle and our girls were resilient to the end. I am especially proud of how well we played in doubles. That set the tone for the match.”
The Cowgirls (13-6, 7-1 Big 12) opened the match by taking the doubles point with convincing victories on one and three.
Viktoriya Lushkova and Kanyapat Narattana dominated the match on one, toppling Elizabeth Begley and Lina Padegimaite, 8-1. Karyn Guttormsen and Katarina Adamovic sealed the point for the Cowgirls with an 8-3 triumph over Juliana Gajic and Pippa Horn on three.
Lushkova was the first Cowgirl to strike in singles play, making quick work of 117th-ranked Elizabeth Begley of Texas in a 6-0, 6-2 match on one to put Oklahoma State up, 2-0. The win was the freshman's second ranked win of the weekend.
“Viktoriya continues to be a force at the top,” Young said. “I told her we needed her to get that first point for us and she did a great job of that.”
Texas responded on two when 92nd-ranked Ratnika Batra defeated freshman Megan McCray to cut the Cowgirl lead to 2-1.
The Longhorns tied the match at two after Padegimaite upended Guttormsen, 6-3, 6-4, on five to hand the Cowgirl junior her first loss since Feb. 23.
Maria Alvarez picked up a pivotal win for the Cowgirls over Lana Groenvynck on six. After dropping her first set in a tiebreaker, the sophomore stormed back to win the next two sets and give Oklahoma State the 3-2 lead.
Adamovic put the Longhorns away with an epic three-set win on four. Pippa Horn of Texas forced Adamovic to a third set, but after trading games for much of the third frame, the freshman picked up a break in the final game to win the match, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4, and clinch the win for the Cowgirls.
“I am proud of Maria and (Katarina) for being able to finish their matches in the third set,” Young said. “Both girls were tough and have made great improvements in this area this year and it paid off today.”
After the match had been decided, Neda Koprcina of Texas picked up the Longhorns' third point of the match with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Narattana on three.
The Cowgirls will look to finish the regular season strong when they travel to Norman, Okla., on Saturday, April 19, to face 18th-ranked Oklahoma.
No. 23 Oklahoma State 4, No. 22 Texas 3
April 13, 2014 | Penick-Allison Tennis Center | Austin, Texas
Singles | Order of finish: 1,2,5,6,4,3
No. 1 – No. 78 Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) def. No. 117 Elizabeth Begley 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 – No. 92 Ratnika Batra (UT) def. Megan McCray (OSU) 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 – Neda Koprcina (UT) def. Kanyapat Narattana (OSU) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
No. 4 – Katarina Adamovic (OSU) def. Pippa Horn (UT) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4
No. 5 – Lina Padegimaite (UT) def. Karyn Guttormsen (OSU) 6-3, 6-4
No. 6 – Maria Alvarez (OSU) def. Lana Groenvynck (UT) 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-4
Doubles | Order of finish: 1,3,2
No. 1 – No. 49 Lushkova/Narattana (OSU) def. Begley/Padegimaite (UT) 8-1
No. 2 – Batra/Koprcina (UT) def. Tur Mari/Alvarez (OSU 8-6
No. 3 –Adamovic/Guttormsen (OSU) def. Gajic/Horn (UT) 8-3
Players Mentioned
