The Cowgirl tennis team lost its first two matches against the Big 12 North but made up lost ground by beating Nebraska and Iowa State in consecutive matches Saturday and Sunday.
Nebraska entered the match with a 13-3 record and had just earned a No. 54 national ranking. The Cowgirls never looked intimidated, though, winning 5-2.
“We beat a very good team today,” Cowgirl coach Julius Lubicz-Majewski said. “We knew we had a chance to get a win if we came in and played the way we are capable of playing. Everybody fought hard and we really came together to get this win.”
The freshmen tandem Jo-Anne Karaitiana and Sasha Belova won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, and Cowgirl seniors Iryna Tkachenko and Yawna Allen won at No. 2 doubles, 8-3.
In singles, both Allen at No. 3 and Jessica Collins at No. 6 won in straight sets.
Nebraska was in the match until the end, picking up wins at No.1 and No. 2 singles, before Maryna Tkachenko sealed the match for the Cowgirls by winning at No. 5. Sasha Belova won a close one in a tie-break at No. 4 for Oklahoma State.
“The girls played great in doubles and we definitely took that momentum into singles play,” Lubicz-Majewski said.
“Jessica Collins really played well at No. 6 to pick up a crucial point for us, and Maryna was huge for us today, picking up the winning point.”
Oklahoma State’s success continued through Sunday’s match with Iowa State when the Cowgirls shut out the Cyclones, 7-0.
“This is another solid win for us,” Lubicz-Majewski said.
“Our girls fought hard yesterday to beat Nebraska, and they came out today and matched that intensity against Iowa State.”
Once again, the duos of Iryna Tkachenko and Yawna Allen swept through doubles play, winning 8-2 at No. 2, and Jo-Anne Karaitiana and Sasha Belova secured the doubles point for Oklahoma State by winning 9-7.
The Cowgirls dominated in singles play without losing a set.
Oklahoma State plays the last of its three-game home stand at 2 p.m. Wednesday against Tulsa.
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