Women's Tennis 2/5/2022 9:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

No. 3 Central Oklahoma Opens Spring Campaign

EDMOND – No. 3 Central Oklahoma opens its Spring season Sunday morning with a matchup against UT-Tyler at Oak Tree Tennis Center.

Central Oklahoma begins its championship season looking to continue the rising trend of the last few years. The Bronchos have three individuals ranked in the top-five in the country and a fourth in the top 25. UCO also has two doubles teams ranked in the top 25 including the No. 1 duo in the country.

UCO went 21-2 last season, won the MIAA regular season title and the MIAA Championship, the NCAA Division II Central Region Championship, and made it to the national semifinals at the NCAA DII Championships.

Mae Canete is the second-ranked Singles player in the country, Christine Canete is the fourth-ranked Singles player in the country, and Adel-Byanu Abidullina is the fifth-ranked Singles player in the country. Grace Chadick is ranked 21st.

The Canete sisters, coming off an ITA Doubles national title in the fall, are the No. 1 ranked Doubles team in the country. Abidullina, with Nikki Boyar, are ranked No. 21 in the country in the most recent ITA national doubles rankings.

UT-Tyler went 12-5 in the 2020-21 season. The Patriots were not eligible for postseason play as part of the transition from NCAA Division III to DII. Tyler is eligible this spring. Though the Patriots do not have any players in the national rankings, Tyler is led by a pair of seniors and five juniors that make up a veteran squad.

Central Oklahoma is scheduled to play at home in Edmond for the entire month of February. The Bronchos will host Dallas Baptist next Saturday, Midwestern State on Feb. 19, and Tyler Junior College on Feb. 20. UCO is then hosting the ITA Indoor National Championship at Edmond Center Court Feb. 25-27.

UCO will play three non-conference matches on the road in March and April as well as Central's eight-game MIAA schedule that begins in late March. The Bronchos are scheduled to play five home matches in the MIAA and three away duals.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Mae Canete: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Christine Canete: 5' 5"; Freshman

Grace Chadick: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Mae Canete
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Christine Canete
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Grace Chadick
: 5' 6"; Freshman