Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Tennis Opens Big 12 Play at Greenwood Tennis Center
March 12, 2015 | Cowgirl Tennis
March 12, 2015
No. 8 Oklahoma State 4, No. 31 New Mexico 0
Doubles | Order of finish: 3, 1
The Basics
The 10th-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team will open Big 12 play this weekend with one of the most exciting conference matchups of the season, bringing in No. 8 Baylor on Friday at 5 p.m. The Cowgirls then host No. 54 Texas on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Keep Up with the Match
Fans can follow all the action this weekend through updates on Twitter by following @CowgirlTennis and through live stats on okstate.com for both matches.
In the ITA Rankings
The Cowgirls check in at No. 10 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, keeping them in the top-10 for the second week in a row. Oklahoma State faces two ranked opponents in No. 8 Baylor and No. 54 Texas.
Three Cowgirls remain in the singles poll including sophomore All-American Viktoriya Lushkova at No. 13, No. 87 Katarina Adamovic andKelsey Laurente jumping two spots to No. 78. Baylor has four singles players ranked by the ITA: Ema Burgi (22), Blair Shankle (31), Kiah Generette (75) and Rachael James-Baker (82). Texas brings in No. 49 Breaunna Addison.
Lushkova and doubles partner Laurente, a transfer from the University of Miami, pair up as the nation's seventh-ranked doubles team. Adamovic and freshman doubles partner Vladica Babic cracked into the national doubles rankings for the first time. The Bears and Longhorns bring in one ranked doubles team each, No. 10 Burgic/Shankle from Baylor and No. 39 Addison/Foster of Texas.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls hosted two more ranked teams last weekend, taking on No. 64 Rice on Friday, who they shutout, 4-0. The following day, OSU faced No. 31 New Mexico and produced another 4-0 victory. The Cowgirls now hold a 12-2 record.
No. 8 Oklahoma State 4, No. 31 New Mexico 0
March 7, 2015 :: Stillwater, Okla. (Greenwood Tennis Center) :: Attendance - 92
Doubles | Order of finish: 3, 1
1. #6 Lushkova/Laurente (OSU) def. Coone/Smith (NM) 6-2
2. Babic/Adamovic (OSU) vs. Hopson/Dulski (NM) 3-4, unfinished
3. Tur Mari/Alvarez (OSU) def. Dahlsman/Olivier (NM) 6-3
Singles | Order of finish: 5, 1, 6*
1. #12 Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) def. Natasha Smith (NM) 6-3, 6-2
2. #80 Kelsey Laurente (OSU) vs. Emily Olivier (NM) 6-1, 6-6, unfinished
3. #77 Katarina Adamovic (OSU) vs. Meredith Hopson (NM) 6-2, 2-6, 2-0, unfinished
4. Karyn Guttormsen (OSU) vs. Dominique Dulski (NM) 6-2, 6-5, unfinished
5. Carla Tur Mari (OSU) def. Rachana Bhat (NM) 6-0, 6-0
6. Maria Alvarez (OSU) def. Sharon Coone (NM) 6-4, 6-3
Series History vs. Opponents
Oklahoma State holds a 5-19 all-time record against Baylor. The teams most recently met in the finals of the Big 12 Championship, where Baylor won 4-1.
The Cowgirls look to extend a two-game win streak against the Longhorns. OSU won each of last year's meetings, defeating Texas 4-1 in the Big 12 semifinals and 4-3 in Austin. The Cowgirls are 6-31 all-time against Texas.
New Highs
Oklahoma State's women's tennis squad jumped to the No. 8-spot in last week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, making it the highest ranking ever for the Cowgirl Tennis program. This week, the Cowgirls are enjoying their second-straight week in the top 10.
This season has brought other new experiences for the program as OSU made its first appearance in the ITA Indoor Team Championships after going undefeated at the ITA Kickoff Weekend event in January.
Alvarez Gets 50
Junior Maria Alvarez notched her 50th singles win earlier in the season, defeating Katelyn Jackson of Texas Tech in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. She now holds a career record of 57-31 and is tied for 12th in singles wins during the Big 12 era for the Cowgirls.
Success Against the Best
Oklahoma State has compiled a 12-2 record coming into the weekend, but the number in the loss column doesn't define the Cowgirls' season. Of the 14 matches the Cowgirls have played this season, 12 were against ranked opponents. The Cowgirls have surpassed tough tests against No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 29 Texas Tech, No. 31 Oklahoma, No. 35 Tulsa, No. 41 Arkansas and No. 47 SMU. Most recently, the Pokes took out No. 64 Rice and No. 31 New Mexico. Oklahoma State has a 2-2 record against higher-ranked opponents, including upset wins against No. 18 Georgia Tech and No. 11 Vanderbilt. Both of its losses come from teams ranked in the top ten.
ITA Attendance Race
The Cowgirls ranked fifth in the ITA Attendance Race for their home matches during the months of January and February. With a total of 715 fans during those two months, the Pokes averaged 143 fans per match. The Cowgirls are the only Big 12 team to appear in the rankings.
The ITA Attendance Race is a monthly program in which teams are recognized for getting fans in the stands. This exciting race offers schools a way to garner recognition and extra incentive to bolster support.
The Greenwood Effect
The Cowgirls are undefeated at home this season, holding a 7-0 record at the Greenwood Tennis Center. In addition to the unblemished home record, the Cowgirls have outscored their opponents at home, 37-1, surrendering only one team point on the season.
Follow Cowgirl Tennis
Stay up to date with the Oklahoma State women's tennis team on the following social media sites:
Twitter: @CowgirlTennis
Facebook: Oklahoma State Women's Tennis
Snapchat: OSUathletics
YouTube: youtube.com/osuathletics
The Squad
Coach Chris Young returns six Cowgirls from the 2013-14 season. Among them is Cowgirl standout Viktoriya Lushkova, who achieved All-America status last season as a freshman. Joining her is senior Karyn Guttormsen, who is primed for her third season with the team. Maria Alvarez also returns for her third season as she begins her junior season. Besides Lushkova, the Pokes have three other sophomores in the lineup, including Katarina Adamovic, Mariah Burke and Carla Tur Mari.
New to Oklahoma State is junior Kelsey Laurente, a transfer from the University of Miami, and freshman Vladica Babic of Montenegro.
Pluskota Joins the Coaching Staff
Oklahoma State Director of Tennis and women's head coach Chris Young announced the addition of Natalie Pluskota as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cowgirls.
Oklahoma State Director of Tennis and women's head coach Chris Young announced the addition of Natalie Pluskota as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cowgirls.
Pluskota, a graduate from the University of Tennessee, was a four-time All-American, earning the doubles honor three times and the singles honor once. While a Lady Vol, she was ranked as high as No. 1 in doubles and No. 24 in singles in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.
After graduating from Tennessee, Pluskota went on to play professionally and has won four ITF doubles titles with five more finals appearances. She reached a No. 157 world ranking in doubles and a No. 478 world ranking in singles.
ITA Introduces New Dual Match Format
In December, the ITA Division I Operating Committee made changes to the dual match format so that it shortens the length of the match. Changes include:
In December, the ITA Division I Operating Committee made changes to the dual match format so that it shortens the length of the match. Changes include:
-No-ad scoring in singles and doubles.
-Three doubles matches played, each match one set to 6, with a tie-break at 6-all.
-Followed (after a 5-minute intermission) by six singles matches, each match 2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
-No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles)
-Three doubles matches played, each match one set to 6, with a tie-break at 6-all.
-Followed (after a 5-minute intermission) by six singles matches, each match 2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
-No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles)
Players Mentioned
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