Women's Tennis 2/23/2023 8:24:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Return To ITA Indoor National Championship

KEARNEY, Neb. – Central Oklahoma is ready to embark on its quest for the 2023 ITA Indoor National Championship this weekend at the University of Nebraska-Kearney's Ernest Grundy Tennis Center.

SEE THE ITA CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE HERE

Central Oklahoma, which hosted and played in each of the first three ITA Indoor National Championships at Edmond Center Court, is the No. 2 seed in the eight-team tournament beginning Friday. The Bronchos are scheduled to face seventh-seeded North Georgia in the quarterfinals at 11 a.m.

The tournament also features defending champion and No. 1 ranked Barry, No. 3 Saint Leo, No. 4 UIndy, No. 5 Hawaii Pacific, No. 6 Flagler, and the hosts, No. 8 Nebraska Kearney.

UCO finished seventh in the inaugural ITA Indoor National Championship in 2020, then took third in 2021 before a runner-up finish in 2022.

Central Oklahoma is 3-2 this season, with a 2-2 record against Division II competition, and a 1-1 record against Top 25 opponents. The Bronchos opened the season with a loss at North Texas, but rebounded with wins over UT-Tyler and Angelo State in Edmond. UCO lost a close battle with West Alabama and blanked Southeastern Oklahoma State last week.

Central is led by its fourth-ranked doubles team of Blythe Buntrock and Nikki Boyar. The duo is 4-1 this season, following an ITA Central Regional title in the Fall. They've won four in a row since their only loss at North Texas in the season opener.

Buntrock is also 4-1 in Singles play this season. She was named MIAA Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week earlier this week.

Boyar has a 3-2 Singles record.

Pete Komada and Nafeli Zafeiri are 3-2 at No. 2 doubles and Tizia Brocks and Karyna Yurchenko are 3-1 together at No. 3 doubles. Komada is 2-3 playing No. 1 singles, Zafeiri is 3-2 at No. 3 singles, and Brocks is 2-3 at No. 6 singles. Yurchenko is 3-2 overall this season, with a 3-1 record at No. 5 singles.

North Georgia arrives in Kearney, Nebraska with a 4-0 record on the season. The Nighthawks from Dahlonega, Georgia are members of the Peach Belt Conference. UNG has wins over Emmanuel, Carson-Newman, Augusta, and Tusculum.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Nikki Boyar: 5' 2"; Graduate Student

Tizia Brocks: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Blythe Buntrock: 5' 8"; Junior

Pete Komada: 5' 5"; Freshman

Karyna Yurchenko: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nikki Boyar
: 5' 2"; Graduate Student

Tizia Brocks
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Blythe Buntrock
: 5' 8"; Junior

Pete Komada
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Karyna Yurchenko
: 5' 6"; Freshman