Women's Tennis 2/25/2020 8:32:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central To Host ITA Indoor National Championship

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma tennis team is set to host the inaugural Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor National Championship this weekend at Oak Tree Tennis Center, with UCO welcoming seven schools from five states stretching from southeast Florida to Hawaii.

SEE THE TOURNAMENT PAGE HERE

Central Oklahoma is competing alongside the best teams in the country for the title of ITA Indoor national champion. The Bronchos will open the eight-team quarterfinals Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Columbus State (Ga.).

Barry, Saint Leo, and Nova Southeastern will be in Edmond representing Florida. Columbus State will represent Georgia. Indianapolis will represent the state of Indiana. Washburn will represent Kansas. And Hawaii Pacific will represent the 50th state.

The eight teams are undoubtedly some of the best in the country. Barry is rated No. 1 in the nation in the latest ITA poll. Columbus, UIndy, Nova and Saint Leo are 3-4-5-6 respectively. And Hawaii and UCO are eighth and ninth in the country. All eight teams are a combined 37-5 already in 2020.

The ITA has hosted a similar event for other divisions in recent years. Its inaugural event for Division II brings the top seven teams in the country from the final 2019 ITA poll, plus one spot for the host, together for a mid-year national tournament.

Central Oklahoma enters the tournament with a 3-0 record in 2020. The Bronchos welcome all competition with not only one of the best overall teams in the country, but some of the best players in the country.

Central has three returning All-Americans on this year's roster in Adel-Byanu Abidullina, Isabella Dunlap, and Paola Landin. Abidullina is the 25th-ranked singles player in the country and reached as high as No. 2 individually at the end of her freshman season. Dunlap, who was also ranked No. 2 in the country earlier last year, is currently ranked No. 29. Dunlap is a two-time All-American after the freshman earned the honor last season in both singles and doubles. Landin, a junior with over 100 wins to her record, earned the All-American honor last season in doubles with Dunlap. This year, she is playing with teammate Nikki Boyar and the duo is ranked No. 7 in the country in the ITA's latest doubles poll.

Here is a complete schedule for the 2020 ITA Indoor National Championship
Friday's Matches
Match 1: (4) Saint Leo vs. (5) Nova Southeastern, 8 a.m.
Match 2: (1) Barry vs. (8) Washburn, 11 a.m.
Match 3: (3) Indianapolis vs. (6) Hawaii Pacific, 2:30 p.m.
Match 4: (2) Columbus State vs. (7) Central Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday's Matches
M5: Saint Leo/Nova loser vs. Barry/Washburn loser, 8 a.m.
M6: Saint Leo/Nova winner vs. Barry/Washburn winner, 11 a.m.
M7: UIndy/Hawaii loser vs. Columbus/Central loser, 2:30 p.m.
M8: UIndy/Hawaii winner vs. Columbus/Central winner, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday's Matches
M9: Seventh Place match, 8 a.m.
M10: Fifth Place match, 11 a.m.
M11: National Championship, 2:30 p.m.
M12: Third Place match, 5:30 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Isabella Dunlap: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Paola Landin: 5' 0"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Isabella Dunlap
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Paola Landin
: 5' 0"; Junior