Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Tennis Set to Face Princeton in San Diego
March 20, 2015 | Cowgirl Tennis
The Basics
The 11th-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team will face off against Ivy League opponent Princeton in san Diego, Calif., this weekend on Saturday at 11 a.m.
In the ITA Rankings
The Cowgirls check in at No. 11 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, keeping them in the top-15 for the sixth week in a row. Oklahoma State faces unranked opponent Princeton.
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. Princeton does not have any players ranked in singles.
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 Tigers bring in No. 79 duo, Lindsay Graff and Katrine Steffensen.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls started Big 12 play last weekend, taking on No. 8 Baylor on Friday, who defeated the Cowgirls, 4-0. The following day, OSU faced No. 54 Texas and bounced back defeating the Longhorns, 4-1. The Cowgirls now hold a 13-3 record.
No. 10 Oklahoma State 4, No. 54 Texas 1
March 14, 2015 :: Greenwood Tennis Center :: Attendance - 112
Doubles | Order of finish: 1,2,3
1. Addison/Wagland (TEXAS) def. #7 Lushkova/Laurente (OSU) 6-4
2. #57 Babic/Adamovic (OSU) def. Foster/Padegimaite (TEXAS) 6-4
3. Tur Mari/Alvarez (OSU) def. Batra/Horn (TEXAS) 7-5
Singles | Order of finish: 1,4,6,3*
1. #13 Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) def. Ryann Foster (TEXAS) 6-2, 6-2
2. #78 Kelsey Laurente (OSU) vs. Neda Koprcina (TEXAS) 3-6, 7-5, unf
3. #87 Katarina Adamovic (OSU) def. Ratnika Batra (TEXAS) 6-2, 7-5
4. Vladica Babic (OSU) def. Danielle Wagland (TEXAS) 6-3, 6-1
5. Karyn Guttormsen (OSU) vs. Pippa Horn (TEXAS) 6-4, 2-6, 3-3, unf
6. Lina Padegimaite (TEXAS) def. Maria Alvarez (OSU) 6-3, 6-4
Series History vs. Opponents
Oklahoma State holds a 1-0 all-time record against Princeton. The teams only meeting was in the 2011 season, where the Cowgirls won 4-1.
New Highs
Oklahoma State's women's tennis squad jumped to the No. 8-spot in early March in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, making it the highest ranking ever for the Cowgirl Tennis program. This week, the Cowgirls are enjoying their sixth-straight week in the top 15.
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 57-32 and is tied for 12th in singles wins during the Big 12 era for the Cowgirls.
Success Against the Best
Oklahoma State has compiled an 13-3 record coming into the weekend, but the number in the loss column doesn't define the Cowgirls' season. Of the 16 matches the Cowgirls have played this season, 14 were against ranked opponents. The Cowgirls have surpassed tough tests against No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 29 Texas Tech, No. 31 Oklahoma, No. 31 New Mexico, No. 35 Tulsa, No. 41 Arkansas, No. 47 SMU and No. 64 Rice. Most recently, the Pokes took out No. 54 Texas. Oklahoma State has a 2-2 record against higher-ranked opponents, including upset wins against No. 18 Georgia Tech and No. 11 Vanderbilt. All 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 have been dominant at home this season, holding a 8-1 record at the Greenwood Tennis Center. In addition to the magnificent home record, the Cowgirls have outscored their opponents at home, 41-6, surrendering only six team points 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.
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:
-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 match2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
-No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles)
Players Mentioned
