Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Denver
Cowgirl Tennis Rolls in Home Opener
March 05, 2010 | Cowgirl Tennis
March 5, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. – The No. 61 Oklahoma State women's tennis team improved to 5-2 on the year Friday, knocking off Denver, 6-1, despite windy conditions in its home opener at the DeBois Tennis Complex.
“The wind was a big factor, but, obviously playing here in Oklahoma, the wind's going to be a factor,” coach Chris Young said. “We've practiced in the wind the last couple of weeks and hopefully that's one advantage we have when teams come play here. Hopefully we're more prepared for that.
“It was great playing in Stillwater. I think we had a good crowd come out, especially for the doubles. It was a good start at least. I think the girls were a little nervous and it showed a little early, but once they settled down things really got going.”
The Cowgirls started well enough to earn the doubles point after Alisa Buslaieva and Alexandra Cristello knocked off Denver's Emma Isberg and Mikele Smith, 8-2, at No. 3 and Sasha Belova and Nataliya Shatkovskaya beat Denver's Julia Bauregger and Sophia Bergner, 8-5, at No. 1.
Sarah Meghoufel and Malika Rose got down early in their No. 2 doubles match against Denver's Lorinda Boothman and Ute Schnoy before rallying to tie the match at 7-7, but their comeback effort fell just short as Denver came out with a 9-7 victory.
Entering singles play up 1-0, Oklahoma State stormed out to three quick two-set wins to go up 4-0 and seal the win.
Cristello was the first, beating Smith 6-1, 6-0, at No. 6, followed by Rose at No. 5 and Shatkovskaya at No. 3, winning 6-2, 6-2, and 6-3, 6-2, respectively.
OSU then dropped the No. 1 singles match before Belova won in straight sets over Bauregger at No. 2 and Meghoufel finished the day for the Cowgirls with a long, hard fought win over Boothman at the No. 4 spot, 4-6, 7-5, 10-3.
“Sarah is so competitive,” Young said. “That's the thing I love about Sarah is that she's never out of it. Sometimes she struggles early on finding her way, but she's always going to give good effort. I would put Sarah as the last match on the court any day because she's going to keep getting better. You saw today she just kept getting better as the match went on and got stronger and stronger.”
The Cowgirls return to action when they travel to Orlando, Fla., March 15-17 for the Orlando Invitational.
No. 61 Oklahoma State 6, Denver 1
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Sasha Belova/Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU) def. Julia Bauregger/Sophia Bergner (DEN), 8-5
No. 2 – Lorinda Boothman/Ute Schnoy (DEN) def. Sarah Meghoufel/Malika Rose (OSU), 9-7
No. 3 – Alisa Buslaieva/Alexandra Cristello (OSU) def. Emma Isberg/Mikele Smith (DEN), 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
No. 1 – Ute Schnoy (DEN) def. Alisa Buslaieva (OSU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 – Sasha Belova (OSU) def. Julia Bauregger (DEN), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
No. 3 – Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU) def. Sophia Bergner (DEN), 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 – Sarah Meghoufel (OSU) def. Lorinda Boothman (DEN), 4-6, 7-5, 10-3
No. 5 – Malika Rose (OSU) def. Emma Isberg (DEN), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 – Alexandra Cristello (OSU) def. Mikele Smith (DEN), 6-1, 6-0
Order of finish: 6, 5, 3*, 1, 2, 4
Players Mentioned
