The University of Wyoming women’s tennis team began their spring season on the road Friday, competing in the Tulsa Hurricane Invite in Tulsa, Okla. against the likes of North Texas, Old Dominion and 28th ranked Tulsa.
The Cowgirls’ doubles teams got started slowly on Friday, with the pairing of Silviya Zhelyazkova and Christa Gecheva earning the Pokes’ only doubles win of the day over Niki Khmolovska and Ivana Vukovic of Old Dominion 7-5.
During the afternoon session, two of the seven Cowgirls won singles matches. Veronica Popovici defeated Kseniya Bardabush of North Texas by default and Jessica Parizher overcame Alexis Thoma (also of UNT) in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 1-0).
Zhelyazkova, Gecheva, Alma Espinosa, Dorottya Jonas and Alena Vasileva all took losses during the first day of singles competition.
Day two was much like the previous day for the Cowgirls, with Popovici and Jonas gaining the only victory of the day for the Pokes in doubles or singles play over Bardabush and Thoma of North Texas.
Wyoming faced 28th ranked Tulsa in singles play Saturday, and each player took losses at the hands of the nationally ranked Hurricane team.
In singles competition, Samantha Vickers of Tulsa earned a win over Popovici (6-2, 6-3), Jonas lost to Yelena Nemchen (6-3, 6-2), Zhelyazkova fell to Saana Saarteinen (6-1, 6-2), and Vasileva lost to Maria Sant’Anna (6-4, 6-1). Both Gecheva and Parizher managed to go to three sets with their respective opponents (Rongrong Leenabanchong and Isaura Enrique) before taking losses (6-0, 3-6, 1-0) (6-2, 6-2, 1-0).
The Cowgirls ended the tournament with three singles victories over Old Dominion. Popovici won in straight sets over Nikol Hristova (7-5, 6-4), Parizher defeated Niki Khmolovska (7-5, 6-4) and Gecheva won by default over Ivana Vukovic.
Zhelyazkova lost in thee sets (4-6, 6-3, 1-0) to Marijana Novakovic while Jonas fell to Ingrid Vojcinakova (6-0, 7-5). Melissa Olguin of Old Dominion beat Vasileva (6-2, 6-3) and Carol Benito of Tulsa defeated Espinosa (6-2, 6-4).
Head coach Dean Clower said after the tournament that his team improved tremendously throughout the tournament, but came up short on the scoreboard. He also said that the team is making changes and that many of his players are adjusting to a new lineup.
The Cowgirls are back in action Saturday against the Texas Tech Lady Raiders. The match is slated for 10 a.m. in Lubbock, Texas.
