EDMOND (March 6) -- No. 32-ranked Central Oklahoma split a pair of Lone Star Conference matches Friday, dropping a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to No. 16 Northeastern State before bouncing back to rout No. 28 East Central 8-1.

The Bronchos nearly pulled off a big upset of the RiverHawks in the opening bout of the day, but NSU prevailed after a four-hour battle that saw three of the six singles matches go to three sets.  UCO won two of the three doubles matches to take an early 2-1 lead, but NSU came back to win four of the six singles showdowns to pull out the tough win.

Coach Natalya Smith's troops shook off that disappointing loss to roll over the Tigers, losing only at No. 1 singles.

Seniors Amy Cabato and Julie Vo led the Bronchos as each went a perfect 4-0 on the day, teaming up to win both matches at No. 3 doubles while also sweeping their two singles outings.

"It was a great, intense match against NSU and it wasn't decided until the last set of the last match," Smith said.  "I thought all the girls laid it all out on a court and I'm very pleased to play such competitive tennis against one of the best teams in the nation.

"We did a great job rising up after a tough loss to come back and beat a East Central that we lost to last year.  We're not satisfied and I know we'll keep fighting hard.

The Bronchos, now 5-4 on the year, take on No. 13 Tarleton State at 10 a.m. Saturday. 

Northeastern State 5, UCO 4
Doubles
No. 1 - Zuzanna Osinska/Karolina Cichon, NSU, def. Audrey Donovan/Lacy Caldwell, 8-5.
No. 2 - Julia Shviadok/Elizabeta Abramovic, UCO, def. Romanova/Chanay, 8-1.
No. 3 - Amy Cabato/Julie Vo, UCO, def. Emina Spirtovic/Alicja Augustynska, 8-6.
Singles
No. 1 - Osinska, NSU, def. Donovan, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
No. 2 - Spirtovic, NSU, def. Shviadok, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3 - Vo, UCO, def. Cichon, 6-4, 6-2.
No. 4 - Abramovic, NSU, def. Abramovic, 0-6, 7-6, 6-3.
No. 5 - Skorupska, NSU, def. Caldwell, 6-1, 6-4.
No. 6 - Cabato, UCO, def. Augustinska, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. 

UCO 8, East Central 1 
Doubles
No. 1 - Donovan/Caldwell, UCO, def. Claudia Gamarra/Angelita Detudamo, 8-4. 
No. 2 - Shviadok/Abramovic, UCO, def. Julia Arguello/Noelia Caballero, 8-5.
No. 3 - Cabato/Vo, UCO, def. Kristen Clubb/Miller, 8-1.
Singles
No. 1 - Arguello, def. Donovan, 6-0, 6-2.
No. 2 - Shviadok, UCO, def. Gamarra, 6-1, 6-0.
No. 3 - Vo, UCO, def. Detudamo, 6-2, 6-0. 
No. 4 - Abramovic, UCO, def. Caballero, 6-0, 6-0. 
No. 5 - Caldwell, UCO, def. Coltrain, 6-3, 6-1.
No. 6 - Cabato, UCO, def. Clubb, 6-1, 6-2.