Cowgirls Advance To NCAA Tennis Semifinal

Saturday, May 21

Tulsa, Okla.

4:00 PM

Oklahoma State University

Ohio State

Photo by: OSU Athletics

May 21, 2016 | Cowgirl Tennis

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TULSA, Okla. – For the first time in school history, Oklahoma State's women's tennis team advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tennis Championship with a 4-2 victory against No. 4 Ohio State at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on Saturday.

"What a great college tennis match, I give a lot of credit to Ohio State, they did not go away at all. I'm just really proud of our team for all of the things that our team has overcome," OSU head coach Chris Young said. "We're representing the state of Oklahoma and the Big 12, but Oklahoma State we're proud Cowgirls and this program has taken on a great life of its own with the fan support that we have. Something special is happening right now and I don't know where it's going to end, but we're sure enjoying the ride."

OSU (28-4) has knocked off No. 4 Ohio State and No. 5 Georgia in a span of three days to advance to the semifinal.

The Cowgirls will face No. 1-seed California on Monday at 12 p.m. with a chance to secure a spot in the national championship match.

OSU led the Buckeyes 3-2 with two matches remaining at the No. 1 and No. 5 positions.

Freshman Katarina Stresnakova took the first set against Ferny Angeles Paz, 6-3, and looked primed to put the Buckeye away in straight sets.

However, Paz battled back to take the second set 6-3 to force a decisive final set.

"We went to national indoors and Katie was in that spot twice and she lost the third set and I think it was a whole new experience for her, everything coming down to her, but those moments earlier in the season prepared her for this one," Young said. "At the end I told her 'it's all you, let's make it happen' and she stepped up like a champion."

Stresnakova faced a 4-2 deficit in the third set. The Cowgirl found a rhythm at the right time, as she would go on to win four-consecutive games and secure the Cowgirls' semifinal bid.

"I still can't believe what happened, I'm still shaking," Stresnakova said. "I tried to think point by point, I wasn't thinking about being down, I just was thinking if I lose I want to be playing my best tennis, so I played every point as if it was the last one of my career."

Vladica Babic battled back and forth through her first set against Anna Sanford. The Cowgirl found herself up 5-4 and eventually closed out the 89th-ranked Buckeye, 6-4.

The Cowgirl closed out Sanford for a straight-set victory, 6-3, to bring the Cowgirls closer to victory.

"Honestly it's amazing, I'm a little speechless right now, but that was one of our goals and every time you accomplish your goals it makes you happy," Babic said. "We're happy that we got to come out and show all of our hard work, we're happy that we're in the next round, but we are not satisfied."

Viktoriya Lushkova won five-straight games to open up her singles match against No. 96 Gabriella De Santis before closing out the set 6-1.

"I was getting nervous because I wanted everyone to win," Lushkova said. "It's awesome for the team that Katie was able to clinch and it's amazing that she pulled it out to give us the victory."

Lushkova and De Santis were tied at three before the Cowgirl put together victories in the next three games to close it out, 6-3.

"I don't know if anybody in the country is playing as good as Viktoriya Lushkova," Young said.

OSU got off to a hot start in doubles, as Katarina Adamovic and Babic continued to dominate the No. 3 doubles position. The Cowgirls did not waste time against Ohio State's Francesca Di Lorenzo and Olivia Sneed, winning 6-1, for their 26th doubles victory of the season.

"The doubles point is huge, percentage wise we're the best doubles team in the country, we've only lost the doubles point one time and that's something that we pride ourselves on," Young said. "I thought our girls did a great job and us winning the doubles point has involved different teams each time."

Kelsey Laurente and Maria Alvarez were up 5-3 at the No. 1 position against Miho Kowase and Anna Sanford, who entered the match ranked No. 9. The Buckeyes took two-straight games to even the set at 5-all.

The Cowgirl seniors responded by attacking the ball at the net to secure the final two games for a 7-5 victory against the Buckeyes.

"I love this team and I am so proud of these girls," Cowgirl Carla Tur Mari said.

#12 Oklahoma State (28-4) def. #4 Ohio State (31-3), 4-2 • Michael D. Case Tennis Center • 4 p.m.
Head Coaches: Melissa Schaub (Ohio State) and Chris Young (Oklahoma State)
Doubles
1. #43 Maria Alvarez/Kelsey Laurente (Oklahoma State) def. #9 Miho Kowase/Anna Sanford (Ohio State), 7-5
2. #58 Gabriella De Santis/Sandy Niehaus (Ohio State) def. #54 Viktoriya Lushkova/Carla Tur Mari (Oklahoma State), 7-5
3. #79 Katarina Adamovic/Vladica Babic (Oklahoma State) def. Francesca Di Lorenzo/Olivia Sneed (Ohio State), 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
1. #3 Francesca Di Lorenzo (Ohio State) vs. Katarina Adamovic (Oklahoma State), 6-3, 6-7 (2), 3-2 DNF
2. Vladica Babic (Oklahoma State) def. #89 Anna Sanford (Ohio State), 6-4, 6-3
3. Viktoriya Lushkova (Oklahoma State) def. #96 Gabriella De Santis (Ohio State), 6-1, 6-3
4. Miho Kowase (Ohio State) def. Kelsey Laurente (Oklahoma State), 6-0, 7-6 (2)
5. Katarina Stresnakova (Oklahoma State) def. Ferny Angeles Paz (Ohio State), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. #81 Sandy Niehaus (Ohio State) def. Maria Alvarez (Oklahoma State), 6-2, 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 6, 4, 5