Tulsa Advances to AAC Championship After 4-3 Thriller Victory over SMU

Friday, April 22

Tulsa, Okla.

2:00 PM

Tulsa

SMU

Tulsa Advances to AAC Championship After 4-3 Thriller Victory over SMU

4/22/2022 7:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

TULSA, Okla. ― With a trip to the American Athletic Conference Championship on the line and tied 3-3 against second seeded SMU, freshman Lily Hutchings stood in front of hundreds of screaming Golden Hurricane fans with an opportunity to send second seeded Tulsa to its second straight conference championship game.

Hutchings had battled back all match, dropping the first set 1-6 before clawing back to win the second set 7-5 to force a crucial third set and give TU a chance. And a chance was all Hutchings and Tulsa needed.

Like she has 10 other times this season, Hutchings claimed victory at No. 5 singles, as a return shot from SMU's Nicole Petchey went long to give her the third set 6-2. The calm, cool, and collected freshmen was swarmed by teammates, as Hutchings improved her winning streak to six.

The Hurricane faced an early deficit, dropping the doubles point. Laia Conde Monfort quickly got Tulsa back even, winning in straight sets at No. 1 singles 7-6, 6-0 before Valeriya Rozenkova followed her with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4 singles. After a Mustang win at No. 2 singles, Lian Benedejcic gave Tulsa its third point, winning 6-3, 6-3 at No. 6 singles.

Tulsa, who improves to 17-7 on the season, heads back to the conference championship game for a second straight year and its sixth in the past eight years. The Hurricane is seeking its first conference title since the 2017-18 season.

Saturday's AAC Women's Tennis Championship is set for a 4 p.m. start, broadcast on ESPN+. Tulsa will take on the winner of Memphis-South Florida, which began after Tulsa's win.

(3) Tulsa 4, (2) SMU 3
Singles:
1. Laia Conde Monfort (TLS) def. Lexi Keberle (SMU) 7-6, 6-0
2. Hadley Doyle (SMU) def. Shura Poppe (TLS) 6-2, 6-4
3. Jackie Nylander (SMU) def. Maria Berlanga (TLS) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
4. Valeryia Rozenkova (TLS) def. Claudia Bartolome (SMU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Lily Hutchings (TLS) def. Nicole Petchey (SMU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Lian Benedejcic (TLS) def. Drew Morris (SMU) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles:
1. Valeryia Rozenkova/Maria Berlanga (TLS) def. #57 Hadley Doyle/Jackie Nylander (SMU) 6-3
2. Lana Mavor/Lexi Keberle (SMU) def. Laia Conde Monfort/Shura Poppe (TLS) 6-4
3. Claudia Bartolome/Nicole Petchey (SMU) def. Lily Hutchings/Ana Naranjo Martinez (TLS) 6-3

Match Notes:
Tulsa 17-7; National ranking #50
SMU 14-9; National ranking #43
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,4,2,6,3,5) American Athletic Conference Championship Semifinal