EDMOND (March 7) – An exhausting week of competition ended on a bad note for Central Oklahoma here Saturday as the Bronchos fell to No. 13-ranked Tarleton State 6-3.

It was the sixth match in seven days for the No. 32 Bronchos, with five of those opponents ranked in the top 30 in NCAA Division II.

UCO went 2-4 for the week, losing three matches by 5-4 scores before today's 6-3 setback.

Julia Shviadok led the Bronchos against Tarleton, claiming a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles in addition to teaming with Elizabeta Abramovic for an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles.

Lacy Caldwell was UCO's other winner with a straight set victory at No. 5 singles.

"I think we did everything we could today, but six matches in one week were taking a toll on my girls,” UCO coach Natalya Smith said.  “We played until the end, but it wasn't enough against such a strong team as Tarleton.

“Being so close with the top three teams in our conference gives us a lot of hope and motivation to work even harder and win the rest of our conference matches.  I am proud of my girls for a consistent effort they put in every single match this weekend."

The Bronchos, now 5-5 on the season, don't return to action until going to Colorado State-Pueblo on March 19. 

Tarleton State 6, UCO 3
Doubles
No. 1 – Natalia Yanes/Melanie Zilles, TSU, def. Audrey Donovan/Lacy Caldwell, 8-6.
No. 2 – Julia Shviadok/Elizabeta Abramovic, UCO, def. Chrissie Cooper/Jade Charlot, 8-6
No. 3 – Evgeniya Prokofieva/Adrianna Jaskova, TSU, def. Amy Cabato/Julie Vo (UCO), 8-3.
Singles
No. 1 – Yanes, TSU, def. Donovan, 6-3, 6-0.
No. 2 – Shviadok, UCO, def. Chrissie Cooper, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 – Jaskova, TSU, def. Vo, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9.
No. 4 – Charlot, TSU, def. Abramovic, 6-3, 6-4.
No. 5 – Cladwell, UCO, def. Zilles, 6-2, 7-6.
No. 6 – Prokofieva, TSU, def. Cabato, 6-3, 6-3.