Friday, April 20
Dallas, Texas
3 pm
Tulsa
4
vs
2
Wichita State (American semifinals)
Photo by: American Athletic Conference/Ben Solomon
Golden Hurricane Advances to Conference Final After 4-2 Victory Over Wichita State
4/20/2018 10:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis
DALLAS, Texas – The Tulsa women's tennis team (20-5) advanced to the American Athletic Conference Championship for a fourth consecutive year, after defeating No. 34 Wichita State, 4-2. Ksenia Laskutova, Martha Matoula, Vera Ploner, and Shura Poppe all collected singles match victories to lead the Golden Hurricane.
Gabriela Porubin and Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva beat Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg and Tamara Kupkova, 6-1, in the No. 3 match. The No. 64 ranked Marta Belluco and Fatima Bizhukova defeated Laskutova and Matoula in the No. 1 spot, 7-5. Wichita State held a 1-0 lead as the match went to singles play.
Matoula blew through the first set, as she shutout Porubin, 6-0, in the No. 4 singles match. Matoula breezed to a 6-2 second set victory. Matoula improved to 14-4 on the season in dual matches, but more importantly she tied the match at 1-1.
The No. 1 match featured the top-2 players in the American Athletic Conference, in No. 60 Bizhukova and No. 74 Laskutova. Laskutova stormed away with the first stanza, 6-1, before she claimed the second, 6-2. For the second time this season, the No. 74 ranked Laskutova defeated the No. 60 ranked Fatima Bizhukova. Laskutova is now 16-4 in dual matches and gave the Hurricane its first lead of the contest, 2-1.
The Shockers tied the match up at 2-2, when Giulia Guidetti bested Kupkova in the No. 3 match, 6-2 and 7-5.
Poppe put the Golden Hurricane back on top, 3-2, as she won the No. 6 singles matchup against Saidhujaeva. In the first set, Poppe rolled to a 6-2 victory. Poppe had a lot of success in the second frame as well, as she won by a 6-3 decision. Poppe is now 8-1 in dual singles match play and beat Saidhujaeva for a second time this season.
Ploner won the first set of the No. 5 match against Belluco, 6-3. Belluco claimed the second by the score of 6-3. Ploner turned the tables and won the final set, 6-4. Ploner is now 12-5 on the season in dual matches and her victory put TU in the championship for the fourth straight year.
The Golden Hurricane will take on host SMU on Saturday, April 21, at 4 p.m. at the Crum Tennis Center.
#26 Tulsa 4, #34 Wichita State 2
Singles competition
1. #74 Ksenia Laskutova (TU) def. #60 Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Martina Okalova (TU) vs. Sandra Honigova (WSU) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
3. Giulia Guidetti (WSU) def. Tamara Kupkova (TU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Martha Matoula (TU) def. Gabriela Porubin (WSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Vera Ploner (TU) def. Marta Belluco (WSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. Shura Poppe (TU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #64 Marta Belluco/Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) def. Ksenia Laskutova/Martha Matoula (TU) 7-5
2. Shura Poppe/Vera Ploner (TU) vs. Giulia Guidetti/Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) 6-5, unfinished
3. Gabriela Porubin/Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg/Tamara Kupkova (TU) 6-1
Wichita State 17-8; National ranking #34
Tulsa 20-5; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,1,3,6,5)
Gabriela Porubin and Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva beat Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg and Tamara Kupkova, 6-1, in the No. 3 match. The No. 64 ranked Marta Belluco and Fatima Bizhukova defeated Laskutova and Matoula in the No. 1 spot, 7-5. Wichita State held a 1-0 lead as the match went to singles play.
Matoula blew through the first set, as she shutout Porubin, 6-0, in the No. 4 singles match. Matoula breezed to a 6-2 second set victory. Matoula improved to 14-4 on the season in dual matches, but more importantly she tied the match at 1-1.
The No. 1 match featured the top-2 players in the American Athletic Conference, in No. 60 Bizhukova and No. 74 Laskutova. Laskutova stormed away with the first stanza, 6-1, before she claimed the second, 6-2. For the second time this season, the No. 74 ranked Laskutova defeated the No. 60 ranked Fatima Bizhukova. Laskutova is now 16-4 in dual matches and gave the Hurricane its first lead of the contest, 2-1.
The Shockers tied the match up at 2-2, when Giulia Guidetti bested Kupkova in the No. 3 match, 6-2 and 7-5.
Poppe put the Golden Hurricane back on top, 3-2, as she won the No. 6 singles matchup against Saidhujaeva. In the first set, Poppe rolled to a 6-2 victory. Poppe had a lot of success in the second frame as well, as she won by a 6-3 decision. Poppe is now 8-1 in dual singles match play and beat Saidhujaeva for a second time this season.
Ploner won the first set of the No. 5 match against Belluco, 6-3. Belluco claimed the second by the score of 6-3. Ploner turned the tables and won the final set, 6-4. Ploner is now 12-5 on the season in dual matches and her victory put TU in the championship for the fourth straight year.
The Golden Hurricane will take on host SMU on Saturday, April 21, at 4 p.m. at the Crum Tennis Center.
#26 Tulsa 4, #34 Wichita State 2
Singles competition
1. #74 Ksenia Laskutova (TU) def. #60 Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Martina Okalova (TU) vs. Sandra Honigova (WSU) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
3. Giulia Guidetti (WSU) def. Tamara Kupkova (TU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Martha Matoula (TU) def. Gabriela Porubin (WSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Vera Ploner (TU) def. Marta Belluco (WSU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. Shura Poppe (TU) def. Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. #64 Marta Belluco/Fatima Bizhukova (WSU) def. Ksenia Laskutova/Martha Matoula (TU) 7-5
2. Shura Poppe/Vera Ploner (TU) vs. Giulia Guidetti/Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) 6-5, unfinished
3. Gabriela Porubin/Sarvinoz Saidhujaeva (WSU) def. Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg/Tamara Kupkova (TU) 6-1
Wichita State 17-8; National ranking #34
Tulsa 20-5; National ranking #26
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (4,1,3,6,5)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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