Seniors Power OU to ITA Indoor Semifinals

Saturday, February 8

Urbana, Ill. | Atkins Tennis Center

12 PM

University of Oklahoma

Michigan

Seniors Power OU to ITA Indoor Semifinals

February 08, 2025 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: OU Athletics Communications

URBANA, Ill. – The No. 12 Oklahoma women's tennis team (7-0) advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship with a 4-3 win over No. 7 Michigan (5-1) on Saturday afternoon at Illinois' Atkins Tennis Center.

It's the second time the Sooners have reached the semfinals of the National Team Indoors since their inaugural appearance in 2022.

Oklahoma opened the match by claiming their sixth doubles point of the season. Finishing first, OU's No. 58 doubles pairing of Julia Garcia Ruiz and Chloé Noël shut out No. 45 Reese Miller and Julia Fliegner (6-0) on court two. At the top court, UM's No. 27 Piper Charney and Jessica Bernales got the win over No. 47 Cara Mester and Alina Shcherbinina, 6-2. Following closely behind, Gloriana Nahum and Salakthip Ounmuang slid past Lily Jones and Ava Bruno at court three with the 6-4 win to clinch the doubles point for OU. The dynamic freshmen duo is now 6-0 in dual play.

Grabbing the first singles win on court three, Michigan's No. 36 Jones took down No. 103 Ounmuang, 6-2, 6-3.

Getting one back for the Sooners, No. 91 Ava Catanzarite secured the 6-3, 6-4 win at court six against Bernales. The senior from Pittsburgh, Pa., has yet to drop a set this spring as she improved her season dual record to 5-0.

In a matchup of 2024 NCAA Singles Championship semifinalists at the top court, UM's No. 4 Fliegner topped No. 13 Garcia Ruiz, 6-4, 6-2.

On court five, Michigan's Emily Sartz-Lunde earned a straight-set victory over No. 114 Nahum, 6-1, 7-5. To tie the score again, OU's No. 43 Shcherbinina beat No. 30 Charney, 7-5, 6-4, at the No. 2 spot.

All eyes shifted to court four as Emma Staker squared off against No. 66 Miller to determine the match winner. In a high-pressured battle that went to a third set tiebreak, Staker came out on top by defeating Miller, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4), to clinch the win for the Sooners.

No stranger to big moments, Saturday marked the third career 4-3 match-clinching win for Staker at Illinois' Atkins Tennis Center. The senior from Tulsa, Okla., clinched back-to-back matches as a freshman against Texas A&M and Duke at the 2022 NCAA Championships to send the Sooners to the title match.

"I couldn't disappoint in this building," Staker said. "I love competing with my teammates and I'm glad I was able to get it done for them today."

Oklahoma will now travel to Evanston, Ill., to face No. 2 Texas A&M on Monday, Feb. 10 in the semifinals. A starting time will be announced following Saturday's competition.

The ITA Division I Women's National Team Indoor Championship is a National Championship that welcomes the top teams from across the country to battle it out on a national stage. Now in its 37th year, the ITA Division I Women's Indoor Championship is widely considered one of the most storied events in all of college tennis. Oklahoma holds a 6-3 record all-time at the National Team Indoors, highlighted by a runner-up finish in 2022.

RESULTS

#12 Oklahoma 4, #7 Michigan 3
Singles
1. No. 4 Julia Fliegner (U-M) def. No. 13 Julia Garcia Ruiz (Oklahoma), 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 43 Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma) def. No. 30 Piper Charney (U-M), 7-5, 6-4
3. No. 36 Lily Jones (U-M) def. No. 103 Salakthip Ounmuang (Oklahoma), 6-2, 6-3
4. Emma Staker (Oklahoma) def. No. 66 Reese Miller (U-M), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (4)
5. Emily Sartz-Lunde (U-M) def. No. 114 Gloriana Nahum (Oklahoma), 6-1, 7-5
6. No. 91 Ava Catanzarite (Oklahoma) def. Jessica Bernales (U-M), 6-3, 6-4

Doubles
1. No. 27 Piper Charney/Jessica Bernales (U-M) def. No. 47 Cara Mester/Alina Shcherbinina (Oklahoma), 6-2
2. No. 58 Chloe Noel/Julia Garcia Ruiz (Oklahoma) def. No. 45 Reese Miller/Julia Fliegner (U-M), 6-0
3. Salakthip Ounmang/Gloriana Nahum (Oklahoma) def. Lily Jones/Ava Bruno (U-M), 6-4

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