Strong Wins in Singles Action Gives Tulsa the 4-1 Win Over North Texas

Friday, April 12

Tulsa, Okla.

5:30 p.m.

Tulsa

North Texas

Photo by: Paris Moua

Strong Wins in Singles Action Gives Tulsa the 4-1 Win Over North Texas

4/12/2024 10:51:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score (PDF)Season Results (PDF)

TULSA, Okla. — With the Tulsa softball team grabbing a 2-1 win over East Carolina next door and the TU men's tennis team enjoying a 7-0 sweep over Lindenwood indoors, it was a perfect environment under the sunset for the Tulsa women's squad as the Hurricane earned the 4-1 win Friday over North Texas in four singles victories on the outdoor courts of the Michael D. Case Tennis Center. The Golden Hurricane stands at 10-11 on the season, while North Texas falls to 10-12.

The doubles point came down down the No. 2 position after Tulsa juniors Maria Berlanga Bandera and Lily Hutchings claimed the first position, 6-1, before North Texas won in the third spot 6-4. Fifth-year senior Oleksandra Nahurska and junior Ana Naranjo battled to a seven-point tiebreaker set at six games all but fell 9-7 in the tiebreak to give the Mean Green the opening score.

Hutchings' doubles win on Friday marked her 100^th career win as a Golden Hurricane. The Preston, England, native earned her 54^th doubles victory to go with 46 singles wins to become the second player on the team over the century mark in wins behind Berlanga, who surpassed the 100-win mark against Memphis on Jan. 28.

Each of Tulsa's winners in singles action needed only two sets to dismantle their Mean Green opponents. Starting things off was the freshman pair of Tayla Wilmot and Erin McKenzie in the sixth and fifth positions, respectfully. Wilmot took advantage of 3-1 and 4-0 starts to her two set wins to finish 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 6 position, while McKenzie broke a 2-2 deadlock in the first frame and took a 4-0 lead in the second stanza to come out on top 6-3, 6-1 for the fifth spot.

Tulsa made it a 3-1 match when Berlanga ran away with the top spot in the lineup in a 6-4, 6-3 decision. Berlanga trailed only once against Olivia Malm on her way to earning her 20^th singles win of the year, a new season-high for the Malaga, Spain, product.

Clinching and ending the day at 4-1 for the Hurricane was Hutchings in the No. 3 position. She grabbed a perfect 6-0 win in the first set and never trailed in the second frame to finish 6-0, 6-4 over Stacy Schulzhenko. Nahurska and Naranjo left their matches unfinished in the second and fourth positions.

The Tulsa women will face Temple (9-5) for their final home match of the year on Sunday, April 14, at noon.

Singles
1. Maria Berlanga (TLS) def. Olivia Malm (UNT) 6-4, 6-3
2. Oleksandra Nahurska (TLS) vs. Nformi Stadfany (UNT) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
3. Lily Hutchings (TLS) def. Stacey Shulzhenko (UNT) 6-0, 6-4
4. Ana Naranjo Martinez (TLS) vs. Lou Chalard (UNT) 1-6, 3-5, unfinished
5. Erin McKenzie (TLS) def. Lilly Schultz (UNT) 6-3, 6-1
6. Tayla Wilmot (TLS) def. Marina Adati (UNT) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. Maria Berlanga/Lily Hutchings (TLS) def. S. Shulzhenko/Olivia Malm (UNT) 6-1
2. Nformi Stadfany/Lilly Schultz (UNT) def. Oleksandra Nahurska/Ana Naranjo Martinez (TLS) 7-6 (9-7)
3. Marina Adati/Lou Chalard (UNT) def. Tayla Wilmot/Erin McKenzie (TLS) 6-4

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