Miyazaki Wins ITA Central Regional Tournament

MINNEAPOLIS – Oklahoma women's tennis' Lily Miyazaki claimed two wins on Monday to earn the ITA Central Regional singles championship inside Minnesota's Baseline Tennis Center. The victory gives the junior an automatic bid to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships.

"I am so proud of Lily [Miyazaki]," OU head coach Audra Cohen said. "She played a lot of different syle opponents and did an amazing job adjusting her own game against each one. She's proven that she deserves a bid into national indoors after this week."

The Tokyo, Japan, native is also the first OU women's tennis player to win the ITA Central Regional singles crown since Ana-Maria Constantinesc in 2009.

In the semifinals, Miyazaki faced Oklahoma State's No. 3-ranked freshman Aliona Bolsova in a marathon match. After winning the tiebreaker in the first set, Miyazaki battled back from the dropping the second set to win the match, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3.

In the championship final, Miyazaki advanced to the defeated Oklahoma State's Carla Tur Mari in straight sets. In her third match against an Oklahoma State player at the tournament, she took down Tur Mari, 6-3, 6-3, to win the main draw title.

"She saved her best tennis for last," Cohen said. "She was very aggressive with her positioning and was able to take all the time away from Carla [Tur Mari]. She let up a bit in the second set, but recorved quickly and stuck to her relentless game plan. She executed well and deserved the win."

The USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegaite Championships will take place Nov. 3-6 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. While Miyazaki is in New York, the rest of the Sooners will play in the Florida State Fall Tournament in Tallahassee, Fla. for their final fall event of the season.