Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Tennis Hosts Bedlam on Friday
April 02, 2015 | Cowgirl Tennis
April 2, 2015
The Basics
The 13th-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team will host the second Bedlam match of the season, welcoming No. 32 Oklahoma on Friday at 5 p.m.
Keep Up with the Match
Fans can follow all the action this weekend through updates on Twitter by following @CowgirlTennis and through live stats on okstate.com for both matches. There will also be live scoring on okstate.com.
Live Streaming the Match
Fans can also watch the match live online at http://www.okstate.com/collegesportslive/?media=494058. Cover starts at 4:45 p.m. with commentary from Scott Swyden and James Wadley.
Cookout and More
Prior to the match, there will be a cookout, starting at 4:30 and prize giveaways. The first 400 fans will receive a free OSU tennis bag.
In the ITA Rankings
The Cowgirls check in at No. 13 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, keeping them in the top-15 for the eighth week in a row. Oklahoma State faces conference opponent No. 32 OU this weekend.
Three Cowgirls remain in the singles poll including sophomore All-American Viktoriya Lushkova at No. 15, No. 85 Katarina Adamovic and No. 110 Kelsey Laurente. OU does not have any players ranked in singles.
Lushkova and doubles partner Laurente, a transfer from the University of Miami, pair up as the nation's ninth-ranked doubles team. Adamovic and freshman doubles partner Vladica Babic remain in the national doubles rankings at No. 72. OU does not have any doubles teams ranked.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls traveled to Texas for a pair of conference road matches. They faced No. 20 TCU on Friday, who they held off, 4-2. On Sunday, the Cowgirls engaged in a tight match all the way through against No. 23 Texas Tech, but dropped a tough 4-3 contest.
No. 23 Texas Tech 4, No. 11 Oklahoma State 3
March 29, 2015 :: Lubbock, Texas (McLeod Tennis Center)
Doubles | Order of finish: 2,1,3
1. Kilgo/Talaba (TT) def. No. 9 Lushkova/Laurente (OSU) 6-2
2. No. 72 Adamovic/Babic (OSU) def. Kiro/Federici (TT) 6-0
3. Tur Mari/Alvarez (OSU) vs. Dvorak/Jackson (TT) 7-6(4)
Singles | Order of finish: 2,1,6,5,4,3
1. Kenna Kilgo (TT) def. No. 15 Viktoriya Lushkova (OSU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Gabriela Talaba (TT) def. No. 110 Kelsey Laurente (OSU) 6-0, 6-2
3. No. 90 Sarah Dvorak (TT) def. No. 85 Katarina Adamovic (OSU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1)
4. Vladica Babic (OSU) def. No. 60 Lynn Kiro (TT) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
5. Carla Tur Mari (OSU) def. No. 122 Sabrina Federici (TT) 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-3
6. Katelyn Jackson (TT) def. Maria Alvarez (OSU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
Series History vs. Opponents
Oklahoma State holds a 33-19 all-time record against Oklahoma. The teams' last meeting was earlier this season in Norman, Okla., where the Cwogirls earned a dominant 4-0 win over the Sooners.
Last Meeting
No. 12 Oklahoma State 4, No. 31 Oklahoma 0
March 1, 2015 :: Norman, Okla. (Headington Family Tennis Center)
Doubles | Order of finish: 2, 3
1. #6 Lushkova/Laurente (OSU) vs. Chumney/Stripp (OU), 5-5 unfinished
2. Adamovic/ Babic (OSU) def. Miyazaki/Brigante (OU) 6-1
3. Tur Mari/Alvarez (OSU) def. Engbroks/Sethi (OU) 6-4
Singles | Order of finish: 6, 3, 4*
1. #12Viktoriya Lushkova(OSU) vs. Lily Miyazaki (OU), 7-5, 3-3, unfinished
2. #80Kelsey Laurente(OSU) vs. Morgan Chumney (OU) 7-5, 2-5, unfinished
3. #77Katarina Adamovic(OSU) def. Simran Sethi (OU) 6-1, 6-3
4. #105Vladica Babic(OSU) def. Zita Engbroks (OU) 6-1, 7-6
5. Carla Tur Mari (OSU) vs. Abbi Melrose (OU), 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
6. Maria Alvarez (OSU) def. Christiana Brigante (OU) 6-3, 6-2
New Highs
Oklahoma State's women's tennis squad jumped to the No. 8-spot last month in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's rankings, making it the highest ranking ever for the Cowgirl Tennis program. This week, the Cowgirls are enjoying their eighth-consecutive week in the top 15.
This season has brought other new experiences for the program as OSU made its first appearance in the ITA Indoor Team Championships after going undefeated at the ITA Kickoff Weekend event in January.
Alvarez Gets 50
Junior Maria Alvarez notched her 50th singles win earlier in the season, defeating Katelyn Jackson of Texas Tech in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. She now holds a career record of 57-32 and is tied for 12th in singles wins during the Big 12 era for the Cowgirls.
Success Against the Best
Oklahoma State has compiled a 15-4 record coming into the weekend, but the number in the loss column doesn't define the Cowgirls' season. Of the 19 matches the Cowgirls have played this season, 17 were against ranked opponents. The Cowgirls have surpassed tough tests against No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 29 Texas Tech, No. 31 Oklahoma, No. 31 New Mexico, No. 35 Tulsa, No. 41 Arkansas, No. 47 SMU and No. 64 Rice. Most recently, the Pokes took out No. 20 TCU. Oklahoma State has a 2-3 record against higher-ranked opponents, including upset wins against No. 18 Georgia Tech and No. 11 Vanderbilt.
ITA Attendance Race
The Cowgirls ranked fifth in the ITA Attendance Race for their home matches during the months of January and February. With a total of 715 fans during those two months, the Pokes averaged 143 fans per match. The Cowgirls are the only Big 12 team to appear in the rankings.
The ITA Attendance Race is a monthly program in which teams are recognized for getting fans in the stands. This exciting race offers schools a way to garner recognition and extra incentive to bolster support.
The Greenwood Effect
The Cowgirls have been dominant at home this season, holding an 8-1 record at the Greenwood Tennis Center. In addition to the magnificent home record, the Cowgirls have outscored their opponents at home, 41-6, surrendering only six team points on the season.
Follow Cowgirl Tennis
Stay up to date with the Oklahoma State women's tennis team on the following social media sites:
Twitter: @CowgirlTennis
Facebook: Oklahoma State Women's Tennis
Snapchat: OSUathletics
YouTube: youtube.com/osuathletics
The Squad
Coach Chris Young returns six Cowgirls from the 2013-14 season. Among them is Cowgirl standout Viktoriya Lushkova, who achieved All-America status last season as a freshman. Joining her is senior Karyn Guttormsen, who is primed for her third season with the team. Maria Alvarez also returns for her third season as she begins her junior season. Besides Lushkova, the Pokes have three other sophomores in the lineup, including Katarina Adamovic, Mariah Burke and Carla Tur Mari.
New to Oklahoma State is junior Kelsey Laurente, a transfer from the University of Miami, and freshman Vladica Babic of Montenegro.
Pluskota Joins the Coaching Staff
Oklahoma State Director of Tennis and women's head coach Chris Young announced the addition of Natalie Pluskota as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cowgirls.
Pluskota, a graduate from the University of Tennessee, was a four-time All-American, earning the doubles honor three times and the singles honor once. While a Lady Vol, she was ranked as high as No. 1 in doubles and No. 24 in singles in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.
After graduating from Tennessee, Pluskota went on to play professionally and has won four ITF doubles titles with five more finals appearances. She reached a No. 157 world ranking in doubles and a No. 478 world ranking in singles.
ITA Introduces New Dual Match Format
In December, the ITA Division I Operating Committee made changes to the dual match format so that it shortens the length of the match. Changes include:
-No-ad scoring in singles and doubles.
-Three doubles matches played, each match one set to 6, with a tie-break at 6-all.
-Followed (after a 5-minute intermission) by six singles matches, each match 2 out of 3 sets, with tie-breaks at 6-all.
-No warm-up with opponents (in doubles and in singles)
Players Mentioned
