Oklahoma State University Athletics
Lushkova Set for NCAA Individual Championships
May 20, 2014 | Cowgirl Tennis
May 20, 2014
STILLWATER -
Oklahoma State women's tennis freshman Viktoriya Lushkova will travel to Athens, Ga., this week to compete in the singles bracket at the 2014 NCAA Tennis Individual Championships. Lushkova will begin tournament action on Wednesday, May 21, against 42nd-ranked Laura Antonana Iriarte of San Diego State in the round of 64 at 11:30 a.m. CT.
With a first-round victory, the freshman would face the winner of the match between No. 14 Olivia Janowicz of Florida and 31st-ranked Katie Le of Santa Clara.
About Viktoriya Lushkova
Freshman Viktoriya Lushkova will wrap up her first season playing for the Cowgirls this week. Lushkova has notched a 17-4 record in singles play this season, competing predominantly in the No. 1 spot for Oklahoma State. The Ukranian freshman, currently slotted at No. 52, has reached as high as No. 44 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings this season. Named Central Region Rookie of the Year, Big 12 Freshman of the Year and All-Big 12 in both singles and doubles, Lushkova has knocked off five ranked opponents in her first semester in Stillwater and has picked up two Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Ending a 12-Year Drought
With her selection to the NCAA Singles Championship, Lushkova became the first Cowgirl since Linda Faltynkova in 2002 to compete in the draw. Faltynkova lost to fourth-seeded Nataly Cahana of Old Dominion, 6-4, 6-0, in the first round of that year's tournament.
Aiming for All-American
Oklahoma State's women's tennis program boasts 12 All-Americans in its history and four singles All-Americans. With two wins at the NCAA Individual Championships this week, Lushkova will be able to add her name to that list and become the first Cowgirl since 1991 (Caroline Delisle, Sally Godman) to earn All-American honors. The program's last singles All-American was in 1987 (Renata Beranski, Tessa Price).
Second to 17
Lushkova's 17 dual wins this season make her the second Cowgirl freshman in the Big 12 era to notch 17 wins in a single spring season. In 2001, Katya Kolodynska became the first, reaching 26 dual wins as a freshman.
