Sooners Fall to No. 8 Baylor

Baylor

Oklahoma

Highlights

NORMAN, Okla. – The 23^rd-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team lost its fourth match of the season Sunday, dropping a 4-0 decision to the 8^th-ranked Baylor Bears at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

The Sooners dropped the doubles point despite a stout effort at all three courts. Junior Emma Devine and freshman Malene Stripp went toe-to-toe with the nation's 10^th-ranked doubles pair of Ema Burgic and Blair Shankle at No. 1. They were tied 3-3 before eventually falling 6-4.

At No. 2, the freshmen duo of Lily Miyazaki and Simran Sethi held a 4-3 lead before surrending three straight points and losing the match 6-4. At No. 3, freshman Christiana Brigante and junior Zita Engbroks fell behind 4-0, but rallied to score four consecutive points before Baylor clinched the doubles point on the other two courts.

“I think we were a little bit intimidated and got off to a slow start in doubles,” said OU head coach David Mullins. “We realized after a few games that we could compete.”

In singles, Engbroks fell to Leolia Jean-Jean by a score of 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 to fall to 9-4 on the season in singles play. Stripp lost her first singles match of the season at No. 6 to Theresa Van Zyl 6-2, 6-1. At No. 2, Sethi fell to 6-4 on the season with a 6-2, 6-3 loss to 31^st-ranked Blair Shankle.

Despite the 4-0 loss, the Sooners had decent showings at the three remaining matches at Nos. 1, 3, and 5. At No. 1, Miyazaki took the first set from 22^nd-ranked Ema Burgic and the match was at 6-4, 1-2 when play was suspended.

“Lily is one of the top players in the country, whether the rankings reflect that or not,” said Mullins. “She just hasn't had many opportunities to date. I have no doubt she can beat a player like this or at least be very competitive, so that doesn't surprise me at all.”

At No. 3, senior Abbi Melrose rebounded from a 6-1 first set loss to 75^th-ranked Kiah Generette to take a 4-1 lead in the second set. At No. 5, Brigante held a 5-4 first set lead against Kelley Anderson before the match was suspended at 5-7, 1-3.

Results

Doubles

1. #10 Ema Burgic/Blair Shankle (BU) def. Emma Devine/Malene Stripp (OU) 6-4

2. Leolia JeanJean/Kelley Anderson (BU) def. Lily Miyazaki/Simran Sethi (OU) 6-4

3. Kiah Generette/Rachael James-Baker (BU) vs. Zita Engbroks/Christiana Brigante (OU) 4-4

ORDER OF FINISH: 2, 1

Singles

1. Lily Miyazaki (OU) vs. Ema Burgic (BU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished

2. Blair Shankle (BU) def. Simran Sethi (OU) 6-2, 6-3

3. Abbi Melrose (OU) vs. Kiah Generette (BU) 1-6, 4-1, unfinished

4. Leolia JeanJean (BU) def. Zita Engbroks (OU) 6-0, 6-1

5. Christiana Brigante (OU) vs. Kelley Anderson (BU) 5-7, 1-3, unfinished

6. Theresa Van Zyl (BU) def. Malene Stripp (OU) 6-1, 6-2

ORDER OF FINISH: 4, 6, 2*

Up Next

The Sooners travel to Charleston, S.C., to take on the College of Charleston Cougars on Thursday, March 19 at 1 p.m. CT.

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Players Mentioned

Christiana Brigante

Emma Devine

Emma Devine

Zita Engbroks

Zita Engbroks

Abbi Melrose

Abbi Melrose

Lily Miyazaki

Malene Stripp

Malene Stripp

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University of Oklahoma Athletics