University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bronchos Meet NSU In Regional

4/26/2013 3:01:00 PM

Natalya Nikitina-Helvey

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (April 26) -- Central Oklahoma is looking for the third time to be the charm here Saturday when the Bronchos face Northeastern State in the NCAA Division II Central Regional.

Match-time is noon at the NSU Tennis Complex.

UCO has lost to the RiverHawks twice this season, falling 6-3 in a regular season match at Tahlequah and 5-1 in the semifinals of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship in Springfield, Mo.

The Bronchos are 17-3 on the season, while NSU is 22-3. The winner of Saturday's match advances to Surprise, Ariz. for the final three rounds of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

"We know NSU has a great team, but we're looking forward to playing them again," said seventh-year head coach Natalya Nikitina-Helvey, who has led UCO to the national tournament five times in the last six years. "We're hoping for a different outcome this time and my team are excited about playing."

Making up UCO's six-player lineup will be seniors Antonella Rossini and Rose Cabato, juniors Petra Pesic and Kristin Richardson, sophomore Alina Gorina and freshman Laura Klingert.

Klingert has the top singles record for the Bronchos at 15-1, while Gornia is 15-2, Pesic 14-4, Cabato 13-4, Rossini 11-7 and Richardson 7-0.

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