Women's Tennis 4/13/2022 10:39:00 AM Chris Brannick

Busy Weekend On Tap For Broncho Tennis

Central Oklahoma To Honor Seniors Adel-Byanu Abidullina and Nikki Boyar

EDMOND – No. 5 Central Oklahoma begins a busy weekend of tennis Thursday afternoon with an MIAA matchup against Fort Hays State. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma will play three matches in as many days. UCO is also scheduled to host Nebraska Kearney on Friday at 11 a.m., and the Bronchos will follow that with a road trip to San Angelo, Texas for a non-conference match against Angelo State Saturday at 10 a.m.

"This will be a big week for us," UCO head tennis coach Joe Vann said. "We know it's getting closer to the end of the regular season and playing three matches in three days will help us prepare for the postseason.

"I also want to recognize our seniors before their last home match this weekend," Vann continued. "Adel and Nikki have been tremendous student-athletes here at UCO. Although I have only got to coach them this season, they deserve the utmost credit and respect for what they accomplished during their time here."

Adel-Byanu Abidullina and Nikki Boyar will play their final home match on Friday afternoon. Fitting they enter the weekend with 124 career wins apiece.

Abidullina has won 60 singles matches in her four-year career at Central and the Moscow, Russia native has 64 doubles wins. Boyar, from San Antonio, Texas, has 59 singles victories in her four-year career and 65 doubles wins.

The two have teamed up to play doubles together 19 times over the past four seasons and they have a 16-3 record (11-1 in 2018-19; 5-2 in 2021-22).

Abidullina spent her freshman season piling up the awards at Central. She was named MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2018-19 and was also tabbed MIAA co-Player of the Year before earning ITA Singles All-American honors after the season.

She was named an ITA Doubles All-American in 2020 following the abruptly canceled season where she only competed in 17 matches.

Last season, she was back to collecting hardware. Abidullina was named MIAA Player of the Year again and was named an ITA Singles and Doubles All-American following the season as she helped Central Oklahoma to the national semifinals.

Boyar piled up the wins over the past four seasons, anchoring the back of the Broncho lineup. She earned All-MIAA Singles Honorable Mention in 2019 while also being named All-MIAA Doubles First Team with Abidullina.

There were no All-MIAA awards given out in 2020 following the canceled season, but Boyar was back at it in 2021 with the postseason honors. She was named First Team All-MIAA in both Singles and Doubles following the season.

This Spring, the two are helping Central to another stellar campaign. Central Oklahoma, at 11-1 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play, is ranked No. 5 in the country in the latest ITA rankings.

Abidullina is ranked No. 21 in the country in the ITA's Singles Top 75 and she has an 18-2 record this season, including a current 10-match win streak. She is also 15-3 in doubles competition this season.

Boyar is 8-1 in singles competition this season and 12-5 in doubles play. She, along with teammate Blythe Buntrock, make up the No. 36 team in the latest ITA Doubles Top 50.

Central Oklahoma also boasts the No. 2 & No. 7 Singles, and No. 2 Doubles, in the latest rankings. Mae Canete is No. 2 in both and her little sister, Christine Canete, is No. 7 in Singles and teams up with her for the No. 2 doubles squad.

Grace Chadick has also spent several weeks in the national rankings. Tizia Brocks, Buntrock, and Lexi Penn have also helped Central to its stellar season.

Here is a closer look at the two Broncho seniors by the numbers:

Abidullina                 Singles              Doubles               Totals
2018-19                       22-5                    24-8                   46-13
2019-20                        4-3                      9-1                     13-4
2020-21                       16-2                    16-5                    32-7
2021-22                       18-2                    15-3                    33-5
Totals                          60-12                  64-17                124-29

Boyar                         Singles              Doubles               Totals
2018-19                      24-10                   22-7                   46-17
2019-20                       11-6                    17-5                   28-11
2020-21                       16-3                    14-6                    30-9
2021-22                        8-1                     12-5                    20-6
Totals                          59-20                  65-23                124-43

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Lexi Penn: 5' 5"; Freshman

Blythe Buntrock: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Mae Canete: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Tizia Brocks: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Christine Canete: 5' 5"; Freshman

Grace Chadick: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Adel-Byanu Abidullina
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Nikki Boyar
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Lexi Penn
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Blythe Buntrock
: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Mae Canete
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Tizia Brocks
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Christine Canete
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Grace Chadick
: 5' 6"; Freshman