Sooners Win Seventh Consecutive Match

NORMAN, Okla. – The 31^st-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team defeated the 47^th-ranked SMU Mustangs 4-0 Saturday inside the Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion to improve to 10-1 on the season.

In doubles, the Sooners went with new lineups and held steady at No. 1 and No. 3 in order to obtain the doubles point. At No. 1, sophomore Morgan Chumney and freshman Malene Stripp led the entire way en route to a 7-5 win over Vaszilisza Bulgakova and Dasha Sharapova. At No. 3, a new freshman duo of Christiana Brigante and Lily Miyazaki defeated Yana Erkeeva and Mary Wright 6-4.

It was the first time all spring that these particular duos competed together and the first time all spring for Stripp to play in doubles. SMU's pairs came in with a combined 14-3 overall record.

“They did great and I was really impressed with Malene,” said OU head coach David Mullins. “In doubles, it goes a little more quickly and those pressure points come a little faster and she handled herself extremely well. She impressed me the most by far.”

In singles, Chumney continued her all-around great play en route to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Anna Kate Anderson to earn the Sooners their second point of the day. She improved to 6-4 overall in singles play.

“Morgan seemed to be very vocal today and that's a sign of when she is competing her best and playing really good tennis,” said Mullins.

Brigante fought off a major second set comeback by Mary Wright to win 6-3, 7-5. After racing out to a 5-2 lead in the set, Brigante conceded three straight points to Wright but responded by winning the final two to give the Sooners a 3-0 lead. She improved to 8-2 overall in singles play.

“Every match is tough,” said Mullins. “The girls need to understand that when they are up, their opponent is going to play their best tennis.”

Miyazaki clinched the match for the Sooners with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Hristina Dishkova. Miyazaki improved to 9-2 in No. 1 singles and handed Dishkova just her second loss of the season in singles play.

Up Next

The Sooners host the 12^th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls Sunday inside the Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion at noon. The match will be aired live on SoonerSports.tv and on various Fox Sports channels at later dates. It will not count as a Big 12 Conference match.

Results

Doubles

1. Morgan Chumney/Malene Stripp (OUWT) def. Vaszilisza Bulgakova/Dasha Sharapova (SMU) 7-5

2. Hristina Dishkova/Holly Verner (SMU) def. Zita Engbroks/Simran Sethi (OUWT) 6-5

3. Christiana Brigante/Lily Miyazaki (OUWT) def. Yana Erkeeva/Mary Wright (SMU) 6-4

Order of Finish: 3,1

Singles

1. Lily Miyazaki (OUWT) def. Hristina Dishkova (SMU) 7-5, 7-5

2. Morgan Chumney (OUWT) def. Anna Kate Anderson (SMU) 6-4, 6-4

3. Simran Sethi (OUWT) vs. Dasha Sharapova (SMU) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 1-0, unfinished

4. Abbi Melrose (OUWT) vs. Yana Erkeeva (SMU) 6-7 (7-9), 2-2, unfinished

5. Zita Engbroks (OUWT) vs. Vaszilisza Bulgakova (SMU) 4-6, 6-4, 4-2, unfinished

6. Christiana Brigante (OUWT) def. Holly Verner (SMU) 6-3, 7-5

Order of Finish: 2,6,1

For more information on OU Women's Tennis, follow the team on Twitter at @OU_WTennis.

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Players Mentioned

Christiana Brigante

Zita Engbroks

Abbi Melrose

Lily Miyazaki

Malene Stripp

Sponsors

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