Cowgirls Advance at Blue Gray Championships

Friday, February 22

12:30 PM

Oklahoma State University

Auburn University

Image Taken at the Oklahoma State Cowgirls vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Tennis Match, Sunday, April 15, 2018, Greenwood Tennis Center, Stillwater, OK. Melissa Morales/OSU Athletics

February 22, 2019 | Cowgirl Tennis

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Oklahoma State Cowgirl tennis team picked up its first win in the opening round of the Blue Gray Championships against Auburn, 4-2, on Friday afternoon. The win puts the Cowgirls back at .500 on the season and ended a four-match skid that began at Arkansas earlier this month.

"I am proud of the way we competed today." coach Chris Young said. "We continue to improve and that is the key for us moving forward, competing and improving with each match. We know that tomorrow will be a challenge, and we look forward to that."

The Cowgirls started play with doubles, where Auburn secured the point. Lisa Marie Rioux and Marina Guinart struck first for OSU, defeating Auburn's Alannah Griffin and Yu Chen, 6-1. Next, Tigers Sophia Graver and Taylor Russo upset Sofia Blanco and Catherine Gulihur, 6-2. To clinch the doubles point, Madeline Meredith and Jaeda Daniels defeated Bunyawi Thamchaiwat and Tamara Arnold, 6-7.

Moving into singles play, the Cowgirls looked to make up some ground. Catherine Gulihur notched the first singles point for OSU, defeating Yu Chen, 6-2, 6-2. Lisa Marie Rioux followed suit, besting Madeline Meredith, 6-1, 6-4.

The Cowgirls continued to dominate singles play, with Bunyawi Thamchaiwat taking out Sophia Graver, 6-2, 6-4. OSU gave up only one point in singles play, as Jaeda Daniels secured an Auburn point against Katarina Stresnakova, 7-5, 6-3

In her first match back from injury, Sofia Blanco scored the match-winning point for the Cowgirls in dramatic fashion, defeating Alannah Griffin, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6.

After an hour-long break, OSU was back on the court to take on Texas Tech in doubles.

Guinart and Rioux got the Cowgirls started with a dominant victory over Olivia Peet and Francesca Sella, 6-1. Shortly after, Blanco and Gulihur clinched the doubles point for OSU against Lana Rush and Kennedy Bridgforth, 6-3.

The Cowgirls will get back to work tomorrow morning, as they continue their match against TTU with singles at 9 a.m.

No. 13 OSU 4, No. 37 AU 2
Feb. 22, 2019 | Lagoon Park Tennis Center | Montgomery, Ala.

Doubles | Order of finish 3, 1, 2
1. No. 43 Graver/Russo (AU) def. No. 17 Blanco/Gulihur (OSU) 6-2
2. Rioux/Guinart (OSU) def. Chen/Griffin (AU) 6-1
3. Daniel/Meredith (AU) def. Thamchaiwat/Arnold (OSU) 7-6

Singles | Order of finish 6, 2, 3, 1, 5
1.#75 Jaeda Daniel (AU) def. #23 Katarina Stresnakova (OSU) 7-5, 6-3
2. Lisa Marie Rioux (OSU) def. Madeline Meredith (AU) 6-1, 6-4
3. Bunyawi Thamchaiwat (OSU) def. Sophia Graver (AU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Taylor Russo (AU) vs. No. 70 Marina Guinart (OSU) 6-7, 6-4, 1-4 unf.
5. Sofia Blanco (OSU) def. Alannah Griffin (AU) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6
6. Catherine Gulihur (OSU) def. Yu Chen (AU) 6-2, 6-2