Oklahoma State University Athletics
Miyamoto and Rioux Advance To Final Four At NCAA Individual Championship
May 26, 2022 | Cowgirl Tennis
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Oklahoma State's top-line doubles team of Ayumi Miyamoto and Lisa Marie Rioux downed the sixth-ranked duo in the nation, Texas A&M's Jayci Goldsmith and Tatiana Makarova, on Thursday afternoon to advance to the final four at the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship at the Khan Outdoor Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Illinois.
OSU's first-team All-Big 12 duo won in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), against one of the best doubles teams in the nation. Goldsmith and Makarova have amassed a 94-35 record over the past four seasons for the Aggies.
The Cowgirl tandem cruised to a 6-3 opening set victory. With their backs against the wall and down three games in the second set, Miyamoto and Rioux fought back to tie the match at four apiece before prevailing in a hard-fought second set to advance.
Today's win marks the second time in the last four NCAA tournaments that OSU has had a semifinalist. They are now 22-3 on the year.
"These girls are playing some of their best tennis and their hard work this season is paying off," OSU head coach Chris Young said. "I'm excited to watch them continue tomorrow and I'm proud most of how they represent our program."
Miyamoto and Rioux are fresh off becoming All-Americans for the second time in their Cowgirl careers after Wednesday night's victory in the round of 16. The OSU pair has knocked off two top-six ranked opponents during their run.
The Cowgirls' journey began Tuesday with a near-perfect performance in a match that was never in question. The Cowgirl tandem came out of the gate swinging, winning eight straight games and 12 out of 13 overall in the match to take a 6-0, 6-1 complete domination of the nation's fourth-ranked and the tournament's fourth-seeded Carol Lee and Kate Sharabura of Georgia Tech.
Miyamoto and Rioux advance to the semifinal tomorrow afternoon where they will face the winner of an ongoing match not before 3 p.m.
