EDMOND, Okla. – The No. 16-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team defeated rival Central Oklahoma 6-3 Saturday afternoon on the Broncho Tennis Courts.
 
The RiverHawks (12-2, 6-0 MIAA) won their eighth-straight match and improved to 6-0 over the Bronchos (13-6, 2-3 MIAA) since the two teams became members of the MIAA in 2013.
 
UCO was handed a 2-0 lead after Northeastern State defaulted at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles due to an incomplete lineup. The RiverHawks quickly evened up the score after winning both contested doubles matches, however, and they won four of five singles contests to take down the Bronchos on their home courts.
 
Senior Patricia Husakova and sophomore Daria Panferova earned an 8-3 victory over Shali Schoepflin and Anna Minakova on the top doubles court, and junior Valeriia Efimenko teamed with true freshman Karla Tomaic to pick up a hard-fought 8-6 triumph over Alli Hodges and Kirtana Bhat at the second flight.
 
First off in singles competition was Efimenko on the third court, where she was able to wrap up a swift 6-0, 6-3 victory over Alix Williams. Tomaic added a fourth point for Northeastern State when she completed a 6-2, 6-2 win over Schoepflin at the fifth flight, and sophomore Molly Worden clinched the team victory for the RiverHawks on the fourth court when she defeated Emilie Semo 6-2, 6-1.
 
NSU and UCO split the final two matches to close out the day. Panferova defeated Bhat 6-3, 7-6 (7-0) from the second position, and Hodges upset No. 32 Husakova 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) on the top court.
 
Northeastern State will now head to Maryville, Missouri, for a showdown with Northwest Missouri State at 3 p.m. April 9. The Bearcats are just 7-7 overall this season, but they are 3-0 in the MIAA and are the last undefeated team in league play besides NSU.
 
Tennis Match Results
Apr 02, 2016 at Edmond, Okla.
(Broncho Tennis Courts)
 
#16 Northeastern State 6, Central Oklahoma 3
 
Singles Competition
1. Alli Hodges (UCO) def. #32 Patricia Husakova (NSU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Kirtana Bhat (UCO) 6-3, 7-6 (7-0)
3. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) def. Alix Williams (UCO) 6-0, 6-3
4. Molly Worden (NSU) def. Emilie Semo (UCO) 6-2, 6-1
5. Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Shali Schoepflin (UCO) 6-2, 6-2
6. Central Oklahoma wins by default
 
Doubles Competition
1. Patricia Husakova/Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Shali Schoepflin/Anna Minakova (UCO) 8-3
2. Valeriia Efimenko/Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Alli Hodges/Kirtana Bhat (UCO) 8-6
3. Central Oklahoma wins by default
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 12-2 (6-0 MIAA); National ranking #16
Central Oklahoma 13-6 (2-3 MIAA)
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,5,4,1,2)
 
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