Women's Tennis 4/11/2024 11:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

UCO Visits No. 14 Washburn, No. 19 Northwest This Week

Bronchos Traveling To Face Top 25 MIAA Opponents

TOPEKA, Kan. – Central Oklahoma begins a weekend road trip with two MIAA duals against nationally-ranked competition in No. 14 Washburn and No. 19 Northwest Missouri.

Washburn is up first Friday at 2 p.m. before the Bronchos head to Maryville for a Saturday at 11 a.m. matchup at Northwest.

Central Oklahoma is 5-6 this season with a 1-2 record in the MIAA. The Bronchos dropped a 4-3 decision at No. 35 Missouri Western and at home to No. 28 Nebraska Kearney. UCO picked up a 6-1 win over Fort Hays State in between the two league matchups.

Pete Komada, Nefeli Zafeiri, and Blythe Buntrock are all representing Central Oklahoma in the national rankings. Komada is No. 60 in the ITA Singles Top 75, and along with Buntrock, is No. 24 in the ITA Doubles Top 50. Zafeiri made her debut in the rankings this week, joining Komada in the ITA Singles Top 75 at No. 69.

UCO has been just above .500 in Singles play this season. Buntrock and Zafeiri are both 6-4, and Ayaka Koga, Anika Ouwejan, and Karyna Yurchenko are all 6-5. Komada is 5-5 on the season.

Komada played the first eight matches of the season at No. 1 Singles, with Zafeiri occupying the position in the lineup for the last three matches. Komada is 1-2 against ranked opponents at the top spot in the lineup and Zafeiri is 1-1.

In Doubles play, Komada and Buntrock are 5-6 at the No. 1 spot in the lineup. Zafeiri and Koga are playing No. 2 Doubles this season and the duo has an even 5-5 record heading into this weekend. Yurchenko and Ouwejan are playing in the No. 3 spot and have been strong for the Bronchos this spring with an 8-3 record.

Washburn is led by Maja Jung, who is ranked No. 5 in the country this week. Jung, along with Lara Schmid, are also ranked No. 7 in the country in Doubles play. Jung is 11-3 this season at No. 1 Singles and Jung/Schmid are 7-3 at No. 1 Doubles.

Northwest Missouri is led by Laura Prieto Sieiro, who is 15-0 on the season playing mostly at No. 5 Singles. Marielena Muench is 14-3, playing mostly at No. 4 Singles. That duo is also 14-2 playing mostly No. 3 Doubles this season.

Central Oklahoma will travel to No. 28 Cameron next week for a midweek nonconference dual with the longtime in-state rival. UCO then wraps up the regular season with three MIAA home duals against Newman, Emporia State, and Northeastern State.

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Players Mentioned

Blythe Buntrock: 5' 8"; Senior

Pete Komada: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Karyna Yurchenko: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Nefeli Zafeiri: 5' 7"; Junior

Anika Ouwejan: 5' 7"; Freshman

Ayaka Koga: 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Blythe Buntrock
: 5' 8"; Senior

Pete Komada
: 5' 5"; Sophomore

Karyna Yurchenko
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Nefeli Zafeiri
: 5' 7"; Junior

Anika Ouwejan
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Ayaka Koga
: 5' 3"; Freshman