MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The No. 23 team in the nation proved too tall a mountain to climb Thursday, as the College of Charleston women's tennis team (12-6) fell to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (15-2) by a score of 7-0.
Helena Nyikos and Diana Colen were the first to fall in doubles action, going down 6-2 to the No. 79 ranked tandem in the country of Rongrong Leenabanchong and Martha Matoula in the second flight. However, the Cougars bounced back to make it interesting, as Mara Argyriou and Katherine Schofield secured the top-flight 6-2 win over Ksenia Laskutova and Renata Kuricova. Schofield and Argyriou are now a jaw-dropping 14-1 in doubles play this spring.
The first two flights playing out to a 1-1 draw set up a deciding third flight showdown, where Liza Fieldsend and Sarah Zschunke teamed up for the first time this season to take on Saana Saarteinen and Mahitha Dadireddy. Tulsa took the early 4-1 edge, yet the College rallied back to bring it close. However, the Golden Hurricane proved too strong, pulling off the 6-4 win to secure the doubles point.
Singles play proved to be more tough-sledding for the Cougars, where Tulsa went a perfect 6-0. Helena Nyikos jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set of the fifth flight against Renata Kuricova, but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-2 which cut her winning streak at ten. Mara Argyriou fell 6-1, 7-5 in the fourth flight to Marcelina Cichon, cutting her own win-streak at seven.
The closest singles match of the day came in the top-flight, where Liza Fieldsend and Saana Saarteinen went to three sets. The native of Finland got off to a fast 6-1 start, but Fieldsend fought back to take the second set 6-3. The third and deciding set was action-packed and extremely back-and-forth, but Saarteinen emerged the 7-5 victor.
“I liked our enthusiasm in doubles today, we looked fresh out there,” Director of Tennis Angelo Anastopoulo said. “We went on to fight well in singles in the top five flights, and we had some opportunities to perhaps turn the outcome of the match. Ultimately, Tulsa was the better team today.”
The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. for their annual Parent's Weekend. They'll face-off with CAA-rival James Madison (8-4).
Tulsa 7, CofC 0
SINGLES
Saana Saarteinen def. Liza Fieldsend – 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
Ksenia Laskytova def. Katherine Schofield – 6-1, 6-3
Rongrong Leenabanchong def. Brooke McAmis – 6-4, 6-4
Marcelina Cichon def. Mara Argyriou – 6-1, 7-5
Renata Kuricova def. Helena Nyikos – 6-4, 6-2
Martha Matoula def. Sarah Jane Jones – 6-1, 6-0
Order of Finish: 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1
DOUBLES
Argyriou/Schofield def. Laskutova/Kuricova – 6-2
No. 79 Leenabanchong/Matoula def. Nyikos/Colen – 6-2
Saarteinen/Dadireddy def. Fieldsend/Zschunke – 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
