Women's Tennis 5/4/2025 2:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

Tennis Wins Another MIAA Title For UCO

Central Oklahoma Beat Northwest Missouri 4-3 In the 2025 MIAA Women's Tennis Championship Match

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Central Oklahoma didn't want to leave its postseason up for a chance, so the Bronchos won the MIAA Women's Tennis Championship Sunday with a 4-3 victory over Northwest Missouri to clinch an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.

UCO won its fourth league title in six years. Central Oklahoma was on the outside looking in in the NCAA's Central Region rankings but now will play in one of the two sub-region tournaments next week.

"So very proud of how they all fought today," UCO head women's tennis coach Joe Vann said. "Great job on everyone's part. Really happy for the team. We get to play on."

The NCAA will announce the official bracket Monday with 48 teams from eight regions set to play for the chance to go to the nationals May 21-25 in Altamonte Springs, Florida. There are six teams in the Central Region, with two three-team sub-regionals.

Sunday in Springfield, Central Oklahoma got off to a good start in doubles play. Hui Soo and Karyna Yurchenko won 6-1 at No. 1 doubles to put the Bronchos in a good spot early. Northwest did win 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, but just moments later, Anika Ouwejan and Nefeli Zafeiri won by the same score at No. 1 doubles to give UCO the point.

Northwest tied the match with the first singles win at No. 2, where Zafeiri fell 6-3, 6-2. But Komada put the Bronchos back in front 2-1 with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles.

The four remaining matches all went three sets, with UCO needing two wins.

Yurchenko kept her strong play going with a 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles to put UCO up 3-1 and within a point of a championship.

Northwest got two more points with wins at No. 3 over Koga (1-6, 6-3, 6-2) and No. 4 over Ouwejan (6-4, 3-6, 6-2).

It all came down to No. 6 singles.

Soo lost the first set 4-6 before winning 6-3 to force the third. Just over two hours after it began, the freshman came through. Soo won 6-3 again in the third and the Bronchos celebrated the title.

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Players Mentioned

Anika Ouwejan: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Karyna Yurchenko: 5' 6"; Junior

Nefeli Zafeiri: 5' 7"; Senior

Hui Soo: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Anika Ouwejan
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Karyna Yurchenko
: 5' 6"; Junior

Nefeli Zafeiri
: 5' 7"; Senior

Hui Soo
: 5' 6"; Freshman