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Nafeli Zafeiri
4
Winner Central Oklahoma UCO (4-4)
3
Nebraska Kearney UNK (8-5)
Winner
Central Oklahoma UCO
(4-4)
4
Final
3
Nebraska Kearney UNK
(8-5)

Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Chris Brannick

UCO Takes Seventh At Indoor Nationals

KEARNEY, Neb. – Central Oklahoma wrapped up the 2023 ITA Indoor National Championship with a 4-3 win over MIAA rival Nebraska Kearney in the seventh-place match.
 
UCO needed a win at No. 3 singles to break the 3-3 tie and Nafeli Zafeiri did just that. She dropped the first set, 7-6, with an 11-9 score in the tiebreaker. But Zafeiri battled back with a 6-4 win the second set to buy extra time, then won 6-3 in the third set to clinch the match for the Bronchos.
 
"We've said it all weekend, we're close," UCO head women's tennis coach Joe Vann said. "We knew we had what it takes to get over that hump and get the win and I think today will help us a lot moving forward. Being able to find a way and get the win."
 
Central Oklahoma led 1-0 after doubles play with wins at the first and third positions. No. 4-ranked Blythe Buntrock and Nikki Boyar won 6-2 at No. 1 doubles and Zafeiri and Komada won 6-2 at No. 3 doubles. UNK had the early part of the match tied with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles over Central's Tizia Brocks and Karyna Yurchenko.
 
Brocks was the first to win in singles play to give UCO a 2-1 lead in the match. She picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 6. Boyar followed with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles to give UCO a 3-0 lead in the match.
 
Kearney responded with three straight wins at No. 5, No. 1, and No. 2 to tie the match, 3-3.
 
Then Zafeiri closed it out for the Bronchos.
 
Central Oklahoma will continue competition away from home next weekend with matchups against Dallas Baptist and 14th-ranked St. Mary's.
 
 
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