Oklahoma State University Athletics
Sunday, February 4
Stillwater, OK
3:30 PM
Oklahoma State University
4
vs
2
Arkansas
Singles Play Lifts Cowgirls to Win over Arkansas
February 04, 2018 | Cowgirl Tennis
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State women's tennis team snagged its fifth win of the season Sunday afternoon at the Greenwood Tennis Center, dropping Arkansas, 4-2.
The Cowgirls (5-1) more than made up for a slow start in doubles by coming back in singles and taking four straight-set matches to clinch the match over the Razorbacks.
"I thought we competed really well," head coach Chris Young said. "This team is what it is, and the strength of this team is the way they compete. We saw that today."
OSU and Arkansas split matches on the back two doubles courts, with Arkansas taking a 6-4 win on court three, and Cowgirls Marina Guinart and Katarina Stresnakova picking up a 6-4 win of their own over Giulia Pairone and Mia Jurasic on two. All eyes turned to court one, where Vladica Babic and Megan McCray had just tied up their match with Tatum Rice and Ana Oparenovic at five-all. It wouldn't be enough, however, as the Razorback duo won the next two games to take a 7-5 win and give Arkansas a 1-0 lead to open the match.
From that point the match turned the way of the Cowgirls, whose strong singles lineup was able to deliver the win.
Katarina Stresnakova made quick work of Mia Jurasic on court three to tie the match at one. Stresnakova was in control throughout and wasted no time tallying a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Jurasic to set the tone for singles. With the win, the Cowgirl moves to 5-0 in dual action and 16-4 overall on the season.
Arkansas briefly took a 2-1 lead on court two, as Razorback Giulia Pairone handed Megan McCray her first loss of the season in a 6-2, 6-0 match.
The Cowgirls got back on track on court one when Vladica Babic notched a straight-set victory over Ana Oparenovic to tie the match yet again. Babic stormed through the first set, shutting out Oparenovic, 6-0. The Razorback put up a fight in the second, opening the set with a 3-1 lead; however, Babic was too much, taking five of the next six games to come up with the win.
"I had some ups and downs," Babic said. "(Oparenovic) played really well. She is a really good friend of mine, and it's hard playing your friends. It was a really good match. I was really happy with the score and the way I responded. I'm just happy I was able to be strong and be able to win points in big moments."
OSU got a big win from freshman Shir Hornung on court six, as the Cowgirl handled Peyton Jennings, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Pokes a lead they would not relinquish.
"Shir is somebody that is competing really hard," Young said. "She took some time off from playing matches to fulfill her military service and is now getting back into it. With every match, you see her confidence continue to grow. I thought she was excellent off the baseline today, and credit to Arkansas. Jennings really competed hard, but Shir hung tough and that's what we needed from her."
It was Marina Guinart who wrapped up the win for the Cowgirls, knocking off Tatum Rice in straight sets. Guinart edged Rice in the first set, 6-4, before claiming a 7-3 tiebreaker to decide the second and secure the team victory. The win was Guinart's fourth straight and third dual triumph of the season.
"Marina is someone that I would take any day on the court with the match on the line," Young said. "She competes with great energy and she is going to make you play that one extra ball. That was a good matchup for us. Tatum (Rice) is a good player who has great ball-striking ability, but Marina was able to push her, dig deep and play that one extra ball. Marina is a girl that I think our fans love watching play because she competes so hard."
The Cowgirls will host a rematch of the 2017 NCAA quarterfinals on Wednesday when the defending national champion and third-ranked Florida Gators travel to Stillwater for a showdown at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
"I think it's great," Young said. "Florida has knocked us out three of the last four years of the tournament. We've played them at their place, but have never had them here. Hopefully we get a great crowd. I'm anticipating that, and we'll just see what happens."
No. 18 Oklahoma State 4, Arkansas 2
Feb. 4, 2018 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Okla.
Doubles | Order of finish: 3,2,1
1. Tatum Rice/Ana Oparenovic (AR) def. Vladica Babic/Megan McCray (OKST) 7-5
2. Marina Guinart/Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Giulia Pairone/Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-4
3. Peyton Jennings/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) def. Sofia Blanco/Shir Hornung (OKST) 6-4
Singles | Order of finish: 3,2,1,6,4
1. #21 Vladica Babic (OKST) def. Ana Oparenovic (AR) 6-0, 6-4
2. Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Megan McCray (OKST) 6-2, 6-0
3. Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-1, 6-2
4. #63 Marina Guinart (OKST) def. Tatum Rice (AR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Sofia Blanco (OKST) vs. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 3-6, 6-3, 1-1, unfinished
6. Shir Hornung (OKST) def. Peyton Jennings (AR) 6-3, 6-3
The Cowgirls (5-1) more than made up for a slow start in doubles by coming back in singles and taking four straight-set matches to clinch the match over the Razorbacks.
"I thought we competed really well," head coach Chris Young said. "This team is what it is, and the strength of this team is the way they compete. We saw that today."
OSU and Arkansas split matches on the back two doubles courts, with Arkansas taking a 6-4 win on court three, and Cowgirls Marina Guinart and Katarina Stresnakova picking up a 6-4 win of their own over Giulia Pairone and Mia Jurasic on two. All eyes turned to court one, where Vladica Babic and Megan McCray had just tied up their match with Tatum Rice and Ana Oparenovic at five-all. It wouldn't be enough, however, as the Razorback duo won the next two games to take a 7-5 win and give Arkansas a 1-0 lead to open the match.
From that point the match turned the way of the Cowgirls, whose strong singles lineup was able to deliver the win.
Katarina Stresnakova made quick work of Mia Jurasic on court three to tie the match at one. Stresnakova was in control throughout and wasted no time tallying a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Jurasic to set the tone for singles. With the win, the Cowgirl moves to 5-0 in dual action and 16-4 overall on the season.
Arkansas briefly took a 2-1 lead on court two, as Razorback Giulia Pairone handed Megan McCray her first loss of the season in a 6-2, 6-0 match.
The Cowgirls got back on track on court one when Vladica Babic notched a straight-set victory over Ana Oparenovic to tie the match yet again. Babic stormed through the first set, shutting out Oparenovic, 6-0. The Razorback put up a fight in the second, opening the set with a 3-1 lead; however, Babic was too much, taking five of the next six games to come up with the win.
"I had some ups and downs," Babic said. "(Oparenovic) played really well. She is a really good friend of mine, and it's hard playing your friends. It was a really good match. I was really happy with the score and the way I responded. I'm just happy I was able to be strong and be able to win points in big moments."
OSU got a big win from freshman Shir Hornung on court six, as the Cowgirl handled Peyton Jennings, 6-3, 6-3, to give the Pokes a lead they would not relinquish.
"Shir is somebody that is competing really hard," Young said. "She took some time off from playing matches to fulfill her military service and is now getting back into it. With every match, you see her confidence continue to grow. I thought she was excellent off the baseline today, and credit to Arkansas. Jennings really competed hard, but Shir hung tough and that's what we needed from her."
It was Marina Guinart who wrapped up the win for the Cowgirls, knocking off Tatum Rice in straight sets. Guinart edged Rice in the first set, 6-4, before claiming a 7-3 tiebreaker to decide the second and secure the team victory. The win was Guinart's fourth straight and third dual triumph of the season.
"Marina is someone that I would take any day on the court with the match on the line," Young said. "She competes with great energy and she is going to make you play that one extra ball. That was a good matchup for us. Tatum (Rice) is a good player who has great ball-striking ability, but Marina was able to push her, dig deep and play that one extra ball. Marina is a girl that I think our fans love watching play because she competes so hard."
The Cowgirls will host a rematch of the 2017 NCAA quarterfinals on Wednesday when the defending national champion and third-ranked Florida Gators travel to Stillwater for a showdown at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
"I think it's great," Young said. "Florida has knocked us out three of the last four years of the tournament. We've played them at their place, but have never had them here. Hopefully we get a great crowd. I'm anticipating that, and we'll just see what happens."
No. 18 Oklahoma State 4, Arkansas 2
Feb. 4, 2018 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Okla.
Doubles | Order of finish: 3,2,1
1. Tatum Rice/Ana Oparenovic (AR) def. Vladica Babic/Megan McCray (OKST) 7-5
2. Marina Guinart/Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Giulia Pairone/Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-4
3. Peyton Jennings/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) def. Sofia Blanco/Shir Hornung (OKST) 6-4
Singles | Order of finish: 3,2,1,6,4
1. #21 Vladica Babic (OKST) def. Ana Oparenovic (AR) 6-0, 6-4
2. Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Megan McCray (OKST) 6-2, 6-0
3. Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-1, 6-2
4. #63 Marina Guinart (OKST) def. Tatum Rice (AR) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
5. Sofia Blanco (OKST) vs. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 3-6, 6-3, 1-1, unfinished
6. Shir Hornung (OKST) def. Peyton Jennings (AR) 6-3, 6-3
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