Cowgirl Tennis Opens NCAA Tournament With Shutout of New Mexico State

Saturday, May 7

Stillwater, OK

4 p.m.

Oklahoma State University

New Mexico State

Cowgirl Tennis Opens NCAA Tournament With Shutout of New Mexico State

May 07, 2022 | Cowgirl Tennis

Box Score

Photos

STILLWATER– Oklahoma State's 12th-ranked women's tennis team was dominant in a 4-0 shutout of New Mexico State on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Greenwood Tennis Center.

OSU improved to 19-5 on the year, while claiming their ninth shutout of the season. The win also advanced the Pokes to the second round for the eighth time in the last nine NCAA Tournaments.

The Cowgirls continued their season-long success in doubles play, claiming their 17th doubles point in 23 matches. No. 12 Lisa Marie Rioux and Ayumi Miyamoto posted a 6-0 victory against Bella Nguyen and Miranda Bishard on court one. The court one duo for Oklahoma State has now won 18 of their last 21 matches.

Shortly after, Mhai Sawangkaew and Martina Zerulo topped Lisa Zhu and Georgia Townsend, 6-1, on court two. Oona Orpana and Dariya Detkovskaya were leading, 5-2, over Natsuki Nishimura and Melissa Cartis on court three when the match was halted.

"I was really excited about the way we came out and played doubles with the energy we had today," OSU head coach Chris Young said. "I thought after not playing for a couple of weeks sometimes you can come out a little bit slow in these types of first round matches, but the girls came out very focused and did a good job. We had a good week of practice and I think it showed in the way we played doubles today and that's going to be a big key for the match tomorrow."

The Cowgirls carried that momentum into singles play led by the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Mhai Sawangkaew, who improved to 18-2 on the season with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 victory over Natsuki Nishimura on court two.

The Cowgirls closed out the match with two more straight-set wins over the Aggies. Ayumi Miyamoto defeated NMSU's Georgia Townsend, 6-1, 6-1 on court five before Sofia Rojas clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win on court four over Miranda Bishard.

Three matches were left unfinished in the second set after Cowgirls took the opening set in each of the matches. No. 20 Lisa Marie Rioux claimed the first set, 6-2, against Lisa Zhu on court one, but was trailing, 2-1, in the second at the time the match ended. On court three, Martina Zerulo was in control of her match against Bella Nguyen with a 6-2, 4-0 lead in the second set, while Alana Wolfberg was ahead of Melissa Cartis on court six, 6-2, 4-1.

OSU will return to the Greenwood Tennis Center to face No. 20 UCLA in the second round tomorrow at 2 p.m. with an NCAA Sweet 16 berth on the line.

Results:
Singles competition
1. #20 Lisa Marie Rioux (OSU) vs. Lisa Zhu (NMSU) 6-2, 1-2, unfinished
2. #31 Mananchaya Sawangkaew (OSU) def. Natsuki Nishimura (NMSU) 6-0, 6-1
3. Martina Zerulo (OSU) vs. Bella Nguyen (NMSU) 6-2, 4-0, unfinished
4. Sofia Rojas (OSU) def. Miranda Bishard (NMSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. Georgia Townsend (NMSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Alana Wolfberg (OSU) vs. Melissa Cartis (NMSU) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #12 Lisa Marie Rioux/Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. Bella Nguyen/Miranda Bishard (NMSU) 6-0
2. #75 Mananchaya Sawangkaew/Martina Zerulo (OSU) def. Lisa Zhu/Georgia Townsend (NMSU) 6-1
3. Oona Orpana/Dariya Detkovskaya (OSU) vs. Natsuki Nishimura/Melissa Cartis (NMSU) 5-2, unfinished