Women's Tennis 2/28/2018 6:34:00 PM Chris Brannick

No. 17 UCO Throttles Cameron

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma tennis team won its third straight match with an 8-1 win over Cameron Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference match at Broncho Courts.

Central Oklahoma, ranked 17th in the country, improved to 5-1 with the win.

"I know I said this the last time out, but I'm going to say it again. We are finally playing up to our potential," UCO head tennis coach Jaron Maestas said. "We have the ability and the team is finding out they have it and we can see that. Cameron is a really good team and to be able to beat a team like that 8-1 says something. Our girls deserve all the credit for their hard work."

UCO swept the doubles points for the third time in six matches this season. Kirtana Bhat and Laetitia Charbonnet cruised to an 8-1 win at No. 1, while Alli Hodges and Paola Landin won 8-6 at No. 2 and Alix Williams and Sarah Van Eeckhoudt won 8-4 at the number three spot. Central has built a 3-0 lead in both of its last two matches thanks to superb doubles play.

That play continued in singles competition.

Landin made quick work of her opponent at No. 4 singles, earning a 6-2, 6-4 win to give the Bronchos a 4-0 lead in the match. Charbonnet needed a first-set tiebreaker to go ahead of her opponent at No. 2. She won 7-6 (6-4), then 6-4 in the second set to give UCO a 5-0 lead and clinch the match. Van Eeckhoudt made it 6-0 with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 win at No. 5.

At No. 1, the showcase match of the day, Hodges and Zhenia Shviadok went toe-to-toe in a contest of ranked opponents. Hodges, ranked 29th in the country, rallied to a come-from-behind 7-6 (6-4) tiebreaker first set win over the 34th ranked player in the country. Hodges fell behind after losing 7-5 in the second set, but recovered by winning 6-4 in the final set to get the win.

Bhat made it 7-0 with a three-set win at No. 3 singles, coming back after losing the first, to win her fourth straight match. Bhat is 5-1 on the season, though it should be noted that her only loss was against Texas A&M-Kingsville and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association ruled an illegal lineup change was made before that match and awarded a win in the dual to Central Oklahoma.

Cameron got its only point Wednesday in a three-set win at No. 6 over Williams, who saw her short two-game win streak snapped.

The Bronchos are back on the court Saturday with a big, non-conference showdown against 12th-ranked Midwestern State.

Wednesday's Results
No. 17 CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 8
CAMERON 1
Doubles
Kirtana Bhat/Laetitia Charbonnet, UCO, def. Zhenia Shviadok/Mathilde Thibaudat, 8-1
Alli Hodges/Paola Landin, UCO, def. Sarah Frendo/Sara Petric, 8-6
Alix Williams/Sarah Van Eeckhoudt, UCO, def. Rebeka Velasova/Melany Opalz, 8-4
Singles
Hodges, UCO, def. Shviadok, 7-6 (6-4), 5-7, 6-4
Charbonnet, UCO, def. Frendo, 7-6 (6-4), 6-4
Bhat, UCO, def. Thibaudat, 6-7 (12-10), 6-2, 6-3
Landin, UCO, def. Petric, 6-2, 6-4
Van Eeckhoudt, UCO, def. Opalz, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
Velasova, CU, def. Williams, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2-6)

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Players Mentioned

Kirtana Bhat: 5' 7"; Junior

Alli Hodges: 5' 8"; Junior

Alix Williams: 5' 8"; Junior

Sarah Van Eeckhoudt: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Laetitia Charbonnet: 5' 10"; Freshman

Paola Landin: 5' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kirtana Bhat
: 5' 7"; Junior

Alli Hodges
: 5' 8"; Junior

Alix Williams
: 5' 8"; Junior

Sarah Van Eeckhoudt
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Laetitia Charbonnet
: 5' 10"; Freshman

Paola Landin
: 5' 0"; Freshman