Tulsa Women’s Tennis Blanks No. 56 USF, 4-0, to Win American Athletic Conference Championship

Saturday, April 23

Memphis, Tenn.

1:00 pm

Tulsa

University of South Florida

Tulsa Women’s Tennis Blanks No. 56 USF, 4-0, to Win American Athletic Conference Championship

4/23/2016 5:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Drake Allen

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Tulsa's 30^th-ranked and first-seeded women's tennis team blanked 56^th- ranked and second-seeded USF, 4-0, on Saturday afternoon to win the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship at the Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center in Memphis, Tenn. Today's win marks the second consecutive conference championship the Golden Hurricane (21-4 overall) has won since joining the American Athletic Conference.

Under Head Coach Dean Orford's guidance, Tulsa has won seven conference championships and has registered a 278-68 record. In his 11 seasons with Tulsa, Orford has registered nine NCAA appearances and nine top-50 finishes.

Tulsa clinched the doubles point in the first two flights allowing for the third flight not to finish play. In singles play, the Hurricane won three matches quickly, which allowed for the other three matches not to finish play.

Senior Saana Saarteinen's play earned her the most outstanding performer of the tournament.

To begin doubles play, junior Rongrong Leenabanchong and Martha Matoula (No. 2) recorded a 6-3 win over Jessica Chaves and Juliani Cadoso. Sophomore Ksenia Laskutova and Renata Kuricova (No. 1) clinched the doubles point defeating Vera Bessonova and Olga Martinez, 6-4, to take a 1-0 match lead going into singles play.

The Hurricane continued its rhythm in singles play as 121^st-ranked Laskutova topped Vera Bessonova, 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Martha Matoula (No. 6) extended the match lead to 3-0 when she recorded a 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 win over Juliana Cardoso. Tulsa clinched the match victory when senior Renata Kuricova (No. 5) defeated Vanja Klaric, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

No. 30 Tulsa 4, No. 56 USF 0
SINGLES
1. #104 Saana Saarteinen (Tulsa) vs. Jessica Chaves (USF), DNF
2. #121 Ksenia Laskutova (Tulsa) defeated Vera Bessonova (USF), 6-2, 6-4
3. Rongrong Leenabancho (Tulsa) vs. Ana Roman Dominguez (USF), DNF
4. Marcelina Cichon (Tulsa) vs. Olga Martinez (USF), DNF
5. Renata Kuricova (Tulsa) defeated Vanja Klaric (USF), 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
6. Martah Matoula (Tulsa) defeated Juliana Cardoso (USF), 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
Order of singles finish: 2, 6, 5

DOUBLES
1. Laskutova/Kuricova (Tulsa) defeated Bessonova/Martinez (USF), 6-4
2. Leenabanchong/Matoula (Tulsa) defeated Chaves/Cardoso (USF), 6-3
3. Saarteinen/Dadireddy (Tulsa) vs. Dzenga/Murphy (USF), DNF
Order of doubles finish: 2, 1

Records: Tulsa 21-4, USF 17-7

For all Tulsa women's tennis news and information, visit www.TulsaHurricane.com. Follow Tulsa Athletics on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TulsaHurricane and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TulsaHurricane. Follow Tulsa Women's Tennis on Twitter (http://twitter.com/TulsaWTennis) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TulsaWTennis).

The University of Tulsa's Michael D. Case Tennis Center is host site for the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Tennis Championships, May 19-30