NCAA Tournament Run Ends For Sooners

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The third-seeded and 42^nd-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA Tennis Championships Saturday via a 4-0 loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The Sooners faced a 1-0 deficit when Vanderbilt took the doubles point. After yesterday's impressive comeback, junior Emma Devine and freshman Malene Stripp dropped an 8-2 decision to the 18^th-ranked duo of Ashleigh Antal and Astra Sharma.

At No. 3, junior Abbi Melrose and freshman Christiana Brigante captured an 8-5 win over Frances Altick and Marie Casares before Vanderbilt clinched the doubles point at No. 1. The freshman pair of Lily Miyazaki and Simran Sethi fell 8-5 to the 20^th-ranked tandem of Sydney Campbell and Courtney Colton.

“We played a good doubles point today but Vanderbilt were just too good for us in singles,” said OU head coach David Mullins. “They showed us why they are the SEC champions.”

After earning a win yesterday, Sethi faced her toughest opponent to date in 42^nd-ranked Sharma at No. 2. Sethi lost by a score of 6-0, 6-2 to give the Commodores a 2-0 lead.

Brigante was also tasked with one of Vanderbilt's five ranked singles players. She dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision at the No. 4 position to 61^st-ranked Courtney Colton. Vanderbilt clinched the match with a win at No.6 as Emma Devine fell to Ashleigh Antal by a 6-2, 6-2 score.

“The experience this weekend will definitely prepare us for future years,” said Mullins. “We are excited about what is in store for this team in the years ahead.”

Oklahoma lost all six first sets, but was able to gain a second set lead at No. 1, as Miyazaki led 8^th-ranked Sydney Campbell 4-3 as the match concluded.

Results

Doubles

1) No. 20 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton (VU) def. Miyazaki/Sethi (OU); 8-5
2) No. 18 Ashleigh Antal/Astra Sharma (VU) def. Devine/Stripp (OU); 8-2
3) Brigante/Melrose (OU) def. Frances Altick/Marie Casares (VU); 8-5

Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*

Singles

1. #8 Sydney Campbell (VU) vs. Lily Miyazaki (OU) 6-2, 3-4, unfinished
2. #42 Astra Sharma (VU) def. Simran Sethi (OU) 6-0, 6-2
3. #96 Frances Altick (VU) vs. Abbi Melrose (OU) 6-3, 4-1, unfinished
4. #61 Courtney Colton (VU) def. Christina Brigante (OU) 6-2, 6-1
5. #120 Marie Casares (VU) vs. Malene Stripp (OU) 6-4, 3-1, unfinished
6. Ashleigh Antal (VU) def. Emma Devine (OU) 6-2, 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 4, 6*