Cowgirls Drop North Texas to Complete Weekend Sweep

Saturday, January 21

Stillwater, OK

10 A.M.

Oklahoma State University

North Texas

Photo by: Bruce Waterfield

January 21, 2017 | Cowgirl Tennis

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STILLWATER - The fifth-ranked Oklahoma State women's tennis team picked up its third sweep of the weekend on Saturday morning, dropping North Texas, 7-0, to move to 3-0 on the dual season.

"I thought it was a really good weekend overall, especially today," head coach Chris Young said. "I have a lot of respect for North Texas and their coaching staff. They've been around for a long time, and they do a good job. We got exactly what we thought we would get. They're a team that competes hard and tested us in some spots.

"Starting this weekend off and playing three matches in 24 hours was a challenge for our girls mentally and physically, and them being able to bounce back this morning after a long day yesterday was really important. The girls really competed well. We got pushed in some spots, which we needed to have some adversity and to be able to come from behind in some sets and serve out in some big points. The girls did a good job handling that."

The Cowgirls swept their third doubles point in as many matches Saturday, using wins on the second and third courts to put away the point.

The senior tandem of Katarina Adamovic and Viktoriya Lushkova struck first, picking up a 6-0 victory over Maria Kononova and Alexandra Heczey to move to 2-0 on the dual season before Aliona Bolsova and Sofia Blanco locked up the point for OSU with a 6-2 triumph over Alexis Thoma and Ivana Babic.

Freshman Lena Ruppert wrapped up an impressive opening dual weekend with her third 6-0, 6-0 win of the weekend, taking down Haruka Sasaki in the fifth singles spot. Ruppert won 36 games in her first three career dual matches and gave up none to complete a perfect weekend.

"I've never seen a freshman start her first three matches and win them all, 6-0, 6-0, so credit to Lena," Young said. "She's very professional with how she handles everything. She is consistent, and she's going to be a tough out anytime she's in the lineup."

Bolsova handled Minying Liang, 6-1, 6-1, to finish off the first dual weekend of her Oklahoma State career with a 2-0 record.

Sophomore Katarina Stresnakova clinched the match for OSU with a win on No. 6. Stresnakova had little trouble with Alexandra Heczey as she posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory for her third straight-set win of the Cowgirls' opening slate.

Cowgirl upperclassmen Vladica Babic, Katarina Adamovic and Carla Tur Mari each faced adversity in their matches Saturday morning, but each would find ways to come up with the win and help complete the Cowgirls' third sweep of the season.

"I thought it was great for the girls at one and two to have to start down and then be able to come down," Young said. "They're going to be down in sets throughout the season, and those girls know how to step it up when the match is on the line. They know how to play big points, but early in the season, you have to re-acclimate to doing that."

Trailing, 3-0, early in the first set of her match with Maria Kononova on court one, Babic recovered nicely, winning seven of the next nine games to take the first set, 7-5. The junior carried that momentum over to the second set as she coasted to the 7-5, 6-1 win to move to 3-0 on the dual season.

Owning the first set of her match with Laura Arciniesas, 6-1, on No. 4, Tur Mari would be the first Cowgirl of the weekend to lose a set, dropping the second, 6-4, to send the match to a match-deciding super tiebreaker. The Spanish product showed poise and experience in the tiebreaker, winning easily, 10-2.

After easily taking the first set, 6-1, Adamovic fell down, 4-0, to Alexis Thoma to open the second. Flipping a switch, the senior bounced back with wins in the next six games to take her second straight-set victory of the weekend and close the door on the Mean Green.

"The most important thing in tennis is when you're not having a good day, and you have to find a way to win," Adamovic said. "Today wasn't my day, and I had my ups and downs in the match. I stayed composed in the critical moments and trusted my shots. Maybe I'm not happy with my game or how I played, but I'm happy that I found a way to win."

No. 5 Oklahoma State 7, North Texas 0
Jan. 21, 2017 | Greenwood Tennis Center | Stillwater, Okla.

Doubles | Order of finish: 3, 2
No. 1: No. 11 Vladica Babic/Carla Tur Mari (OKST) vs. Alexandra Heczey/Maria Kononova (UNT) 3-4, unf.
No. 2: No. 58 Sofia Blanco/Aliona Bolsova (OKST) def. Ivana Babic/Alexis Thoma (UNT) 6-2
No. 3: Katarina Adamovic/Viktoriya Lushkova (OKST) def. Laura Arciniegas/Haruka Sasaki (UNT) 6-0

Singles | Order of finish: 5, 3, 6, 1, 4, 2
No. 1: No. 29 Vladica Babic (OKST) def. Maria Kononova (UNT) 7-5, 6-1
No. 2: No. 68 Katarina Adamovic (OKST) def. Alexis Thoma (UNT) 6-1, 6-4
No. 3: Aliona Bolsova (OKST) def. Minying Liang (UNT) 6-1, 6-1
No. 4: No. 32 Carla Tur Mari (OKST) def. Laura Arciniegas (UNT) 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 (10-2)
No. 5: Lena Ruppert (OKST) def. Haruka Sasaki (UNT) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Katarina Stresnakova (OKST) def. Alexandra Heczey (UNT) 6-2, 6-2