Sooners End Home Slate with Loss

NORMAN, Okla. – The 29^th-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team moved to 12-8 on the season after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

The Sooners earned their second doubles point of the weekend due in large part to a gritty effort at No. 3 from junior Zita Engbroks and freshman Christiana Brigante. Facing a 5-2 deficit against Rachel McNeely and Alexis Czapinski, they won four straight games to take a 6-5 lead before Kansas forced a tiebreak. OU won the tiebreak 7-5 and the match 7-6.

At No. 2, the freshman pair of Lily Miyazaki and Simran Sethi won five straight games to defeat Smith Hinton and Summer Collins 6-2. At No. 1, junior Emma Devine and freshman Malene Stripp won the first two games before surrendering six straight to Maria Belen Luduena and Madison Harrison and losing 6-2.

Brigante continued her impressive weekend performance into singles. At No. 5, she won in dominating fashion against Rachel McNeely 6-3, 6-0. The win gave the Sooners a quick 2-0 lead. Brigante was 4-0 combined in singles and doubles for the weekend.

“Christie is believing in her game style and what she needs to do,” said OU head coach David Mullins. “She played well and I wasn't surprised. She has practiced well all week.”

The Jayhawks responded with wins at No. 3 and No. 6 to tie the match at 2-2. At No. 3, senior Abbi Melrose dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Madison Harrison after leading 4-1 in the first set. At No. 6, Stripp fell to Alexis Czapinski 6-3, 6-4.

Miyazaki improved to 13-4 at No. 1 with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Maria Belen Ludeuna to give the Sooners a 3-2 lead. At No. 2, Sethi fell to Smith Hinton 7-5, 6-3 as Kansas tied the match at 3-3.

At No. 4, Engbroks faced a 4-6, 2-5 deficit before winning four straight games to take a 6-5 lead in the second set. Her opponent, Summer Collins, forced a tiebreak that she won 8-6 to clinch the match for Kansas.

Senior Day

Despite the loss, the Sooners were able to honor and celebrate the career of Melrose, who has represented OU well on and off the court. On the court, Melrose won a Big 12 Conference championship at No. 2 doubles in 2012 with partner Mia Lancaster. Her career dual record in singles stands at 38-35, while her doubles dual record stands at 19-14. Her overall career record in singles is 60-54.

Melrose's .769 singles winning percentage in 2013-14 ranks 8^th in program history for a single season.

Melrose has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team each of the last two years (2013, 2014) and was named an ITA Scholar Athlete in 2012 and 2014.

“She has really just been one of the most reliable players I have ever coached,” said Mullins. “Her attitude is phenomenal every practice and match day. Despite what is going on with her game or with her life, she is going to always give you her best.”

Results

Doubles

1. Luduena/Harrison (KU) def. Devine/Stripp (OU) 6-2

2. Miyazaki/Sethi (OU) def. Hinton/Collins (KU) 6-2

3. Engbroks/Brigante (OU) def. Panaite/Nizzi (KU) 7-6 (5)

ORDER OF FINISH: 1, 2, 3

Singles

1. Lily Miyazaki (OU) def. Maria Belen Luduena (KU) 7-5, 6-3

2. Smith Hinton (KU) def. Simran Sethi (OU) 7-5, 6-3

3. Madison Harrison (KU) def. Abbi Melrose (OU) 6-4, 6-4

4. Summer Collins (KU) def. Zita Engbroks (OU) 6-4, 7-6 (6)

5. Christiana Brigante (OU) def. Rachel McNeely (KU) 6-3, 6-0

6. Alexis Czapinski (KU) def. Malene Stripp (OU) 6-3, 6-4

ORDER OF FINISH: 5, 6, 3, 1, 2, 4*

Up Next

The Sooners finish out the regular season Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. CT against the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown, W. Va.

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Players Mentioned

Christiana Brigante

Emma Devine

Zita Engbroks

Mia Lancaster

Abbi Melrose

Lily Miyazaki

Malene Stripp

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics