Tennis Scores 4-3 Victory Over OSU

BOULDER- Junior Camila Belassi broke a personal four-match losing streak, winning the top singles position in straight sets and clinching the University of Colorado tennis team's 4-3 victory over Oklahoma State, Sunday afternoon.

“I was pleased with the intensity and desire our team played with,” said CU head coach Nicole Kenneally. “It was a good team effort. It was an adverse day for all players, but we handled the conditions well. It is really fun to be playing in the conference.”

Colorado (6-5, 2-0) opened Big 12 play with two straight victories for the third straight year. The Buffs have won the last four matches against Oklahoma State (7-6, 1-1) in Boulder. It is the first time this spring season CU has won two straight matches.

The competition started off with doubles play as the duo of Abbie Probert and Michala Hedelund Jensen broke a three-match losing streak at the No. 3 doubles position as they defeated Oleksandra Belova and Maryna Tkachenko, 9-7. Oklahoma State's Nataliya Shatkovskaya and JoAnne Karaitiana scored a 9-7 victory over Belassi and Melisa Esposito at the No. 1 doubles slot. At the No. 2 position, Franziska Jendrian and Ania Anuszkiewicz won the doubles point for the Buffs as they bested Alisa Buslaieva and Iryna Khatsko, 8-4.

With CU holding a 1-0 lead after clinching the doubles portion, Melisa Esposito kept the winning momentum at the No. 2 singles spot with her 6-0, 6-1 win over Shatkovskaya, and Probert followed up with a straight set victory over Tkachenko 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 3 position.

Oklahoma State's Belova took a 6-1, 7-6(2) win over Anuszkiewicz at the No. 5 slot and Belassi clinched the match for the Buffaloes with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Karaitiana at the No. 1 position, the fourth time this season she has clinched a CU team victory.

Oklahoma State came out victorious in the last two singles matches at the No. 4 and 6 positions. Buslaieva defeated Hedelund Jensen 6-1, 7-6(2). Khatsko and Jendrian battled it out, but Khatsko took the 4-6, 7-6(3), 1-0 (6).

Colorado will take to the road with its tour of the state of Kansas, taking on the Jayhawks on Friday, Mar. 20 at 1 p.m., then facing Kansas State on Sunday, Mar. 22 at 10 a.m.

Match Notes vs. Oklahoma State

-Esposito has won three of her last five singles matches. She claimed her 56^th career singles victory.

-Esposito is tied for 23^rd place on the school's all-time list.

-Probert has won five of her last seven singles matches and has won a team-best seven spring singles matches.

-It was the third time this season that the No. 1, 2 and 3 singles positions won. Colorado is 3-0 when they accomplish that feat.

-Belassi recorded her 49^th career singles victory, she is 28^th all-time at CU.

Colorado 4, Oklahoma State 3

CU (6-5, 2-0 Big 12), OSU (7-6, 1-1 Big 12)

March 15, Boulder, Colo.

1d) Shatkovskaya/Karaitiana (OSU) def. Belassi/Esposito (CU) 9-7

2d) Jendrian/Anuszkiewicz (CU) def. Buslaieva/Khatsko (OSU) 8-4

3d) Probert/Hedelund Jensen (CU) def. Belova/Tkachenko (OSU) 9-7

Order of finish: 2,1,3*

1s) Camila Belassi (CU) def. Jo-Anne Karaitiana (OSU) 6-3, 6-2

2s) Melisa Esposito (CU) def. Nataliya Shatkovskaya (OSU) 6-0, 6-1

3s) Abbie Probert (CU) def. Maryna Tkachenko (OSU) 6-1, 6-2

4s) Iryna Khatsko (OSU)def. Franziska Jendrian (CU) 4-6, 7-6 (3), 1-0 (6)

5s) Oleksandra Belova (OSU) def. Ania Anuszkiewicz (CU) 6-1, 7-6(2)

6s) Alisa Buslaieva (OSU) def.Michala Hedelund Jensen (CU) 6-1, 7-6(2)

Order of finish: 2,3,5,1*,6,4

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Players Mentioned

Ania Anuszkiewicz

Camila Belassi

Melisa Esposito

Michala Hedelund Jensen

Franziska Jendrian

Abbie Probert