Sooners Punch Ticket To ITA National Indoors

17 Oklahoma

6 Duke

NORMAN — The No. 17 Oklahoma women's tennis team came out victorious in the ITA Kickoff Weekend championship match, defeating No. 6 Duke 4-2 in Durham, N.C., to send the Sooners to the ITA National Indoor Championships.

Starting off in doubles, OU's Anchisa Chanta and Marcelina Podlinska dropped a 6-1 match to Emma Jackson and Ellie Coleman on court three. But the Sooners answered with Ivana and Carmen Corley taking down Georgia Drummy and Karolina Berankova 7-6 (7-2) at the top line. To clinch the doubles point, Sooners Layne Sleeth and Alexandra Pisareva defeated No. 20 doubles pair Chloe Beck and Margaryta Bilokin 7-5 on court two.

"An amazing team effort from start to finish," said OU head coach Audra Cohen. "We stayed gritty and fought until the end for the doubles point. Then in singles, we stepped up and we stayed in control of the momentum until the very last point."

In singles, Duke tied the score 1-1 as No. 73 Drummy shut out No. 105 Carmen Corley, 6-0, 6-0 at the top line. No. 83 Ivana Corley responded with a 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 26 Emma Jackson on court three. Chanta gave OU the lead once again by defeating Kelly Chen 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 at the No. 4 spot.

The Blue Devils made the score 3-2 after Bilokin defeated Pisareva 7-5, 4-6 on court five.

To clinch the match, No. 101 Emma Staker took down #48 Coleman 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 at the No. 6 spot.

"I'm extremely proud of Emma for her growth and her first clinch," said Cohen.

When play was halted, No. 16 Sleeth was down 6-3, 4-6, 2-4 to No. 15 Beck on court two.

"These wins are a product of the entire program playing with heart," said Cohen. "Super proud of this crew and excited to head to national indoors."

The National Indoor Championships will be held Feb. 11-14 in Madison, Wis.

UP NEXT

The Sooners are back home at the Headington Family Tennis Center, hosting a doubleheader against New Mexico State on Feb. 5 at 10 a.m. CT and 2 p.m. CT.

RESULTS

#17 OU Women's Tennis 4, #6 Duke 2

Singles
1. #73 Georgia Drummy (DU) def. #105 Carmen Corley (OU) 6-0, 6-0
2. #16 Layne Sleeth (OU) vs. #15 Chloe Beck (DU) 6-3, 4-6, 2-4, unfinished
3. #83 Ivana Corley (OU) vs. #26 Emma Jackson (DU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Anchisa Chanta (OU) def. Kelly Chen (DU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-4
5. Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. Alexandra Pisareva (OU) 7-5, 6-4
6. #101 Emma Staker (OU) def. #48 Ellie Coleman (DU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2

Doubles
1. Ivana Corley/Carmen Corley (OU) def. Georgia Drummy/Karolina Berankova (DU) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Layne Sleeth/Alexandra Pisareva (OU) def. #20 Chloe Beck/Margaryta Bilokin (DU) 7-5
3. Emma Jackson/Ellie Coleman (DU) def. Anchisa Chanta/Marcelina Podlinska (OU) 6-1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,4,5,6)