Adamovic Lifts Cowgirls into Big 12 Finals

Saturday, April 29

Norman, OK

2 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

Baylor

April 29, 2017 | Cowgirl Tennis

NORMAN, Okla. – Thanks to a thrilling, three-set win from senior Katarina Adamovic, the ninth-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team advanced to its fourth Big 12 title match in the last five years Saturday evening, as it dropped No. 15 Baylor, 4-2, in the conference semifinals at the Headington Tennis Center.

"I think when you have great players and you have girls who have been in it before, you just trust the players," head coach Chris Young said. "I don't think now, at the end of the year, is the time to be nervous. You put in the hard work and you should expect to win. I think that's the thing you see with our team – when it's crunch time, these girls are going to step up and I have all the confidence in not only (Adamovic), but all the girls on our team. At this point in time, you live for these moments and we've prepared for it. There's no reason to be nervous. "

Due to cold and rainy conditions both women's semifinal matches were moved indoors, changing the match format to singles first followed by doubles if necessary. The Cowgirls (22-4) would need to take four matches from the Bears in singles to clinch the win.

Things started out well for OSU, as the Pokes came out hot by taking five of six first sets. Shortly after, the Cowgirls picked up a trio of wins to build a quick, 3-0 lead, thanks to wins from Aliona Bolsova, Vladica Babic and Katarina Stresnakova.

Bolsova was unstoppable on Saturday, shutting out No. 114 Rhiann Newborn, 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 3 spot to put the first point of the day on the board. Bolsova overwhelmed the Baylor senior on the way to the dominant victory, which moved to 27-7 overall on the season and 16-4 in dual play.

Babic stretched the Cowgirl lead to 2-0 with a straight-set win over Angie Shakhraichuk at No. 4. After taking the first set, 6-2, Babic found herself trailing, 2-0, to open the second. Eventually able to cut the lead to 4-3, the junior was able to take the final three games of the frame to close out Shakhraichuk.

Stresnakova continued her string of impressive play this spring, dropping Baylor's Jessica Hinojosa, 6-3, 6-3, on court six. Following up her match-clinching win over Kansas on Friday, the Cowgirl sophomore pulled away late in both sets Saturday to extend her win streak to 12 and put OSU on the brink of advancing.

With the Cowgirls a point away from the win, the Bears wouldn't go away quietly. Soon after Stresnakova's match wrapped up, the teams headed to third sets on courts one, two and five.

Matched up with No. 5 Blair Shankle in a top-10 battle, Viktoriya Lushkova's match at No. 1 went to a tiebreaker to decide the second set after the Cowgirl senior easily took the first, 6-3. Although an epic battle, Shankle would take the tiebreaker, 9-7, to force a third set that she would claim, 6-0, and cut the OSU lead to two.

Baylor would pick up a second point on court five. After coming up short in her first set against Theresa Van Zyl, freshman Lena Ruppert bounced back in spectacular fashion by taking the second in a 7-0 tiebreaker. Van Zyl would be too much for Ruppert in the third set, however, as the Bear claimed the 6-1, 6-7(0), 6-3 victory.

Katarina Adamovic was able to will OSU to a victory on line two. Faced with a third set after dropping a 7-5 tiebreaker to Elizabeth Profit in the second frame, the Cowgirl senior would not be discouraged as she pulled away late to win the set and the match, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2, to put the Cowgirls into the Big 12 Championship match.

"You work for matches like this and all the work is for when it comes down to you," Adamovic said. "I think I played a good match. Congratulations to her, because she dug deep. It was a really good match."

"The crowd always helps. I love playing in front of our crowds. They give me motivation. When I look up and see my teammates and these people who come to support us no matter where we play, it always gives me motivation to leave everything on the court. That's what I love about this school is these people."

The Cowgirls will match up with top-seeded and seventh-ranked Texas Tech Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Big 12 Championship at the Headington Tennis Center. The match will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

No. 9 Oklahoma State 4, No. 15 Baylor 2
April 29, 2017 | Headington Tennis Center | Norman, Okla.

Singles | Order of finish: 3, 4, 6, 1, 5, 2
1. #5 Blair Shankle (BU) def. #7 Viktoria Lushkova (OKST) 3-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-0
2. #49 Katarina Adamovic (OKST) def. Elizabeth Profit (BU) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2
3. #70 Aliona Bolsova (OKST) def. #114 Rhiann Newborn (BU) 6-0, 6-0
4. #69 Vladica Babic (OKST) def. Angie Shakhraichuk (BU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Theresa Van Zyl (BU) def. Lena Ruppert (OKST) 6-1, 6-7 (7-0), 6-3
6. Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Jessica Hinojosa (BU) 6-3, 6-3