SAN MARCOS, Texas (May 7) – Central Oklahoma saw its 2009 tennis season come to an end here Thursday when the Bronchos dropped a 5-1 decision to St. Edward's in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.
The No. 21-ranked Hilltoppers won two of the three doubles matches to take a quick 2-1 lead and then ended the match early by winning at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 singles, leaving the other three bouts unfinished.
Amy Cabato and Julie Vo had the lone win for the No. 28-rated Bronchos, teaming up for an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles to finish the season with a 17-3 record
UCO ended a highly-successful season with a 14-8 record in making its second straight appearance in the national tournament. SEU improved to 17-6 and moved into Friday's regional finals.
“We played hard, but St. Edward's was just better than us today,” UCO coach Natalya Smith said. “I'm so proud of my team and everything we accomplished this year. We've made a lot of progress with our program the last couple of years and I look forward to bigger and better things ahead.”
It was the final match for UCO's three seniors -- Cabato, Vo and Audrey Donovan.
St. Edward's 5, UCO 1
Doubles
No. 1 – Regina DelBosque/Audrey Tompkins, SEU, def. Audrey Donovan/Lacy Caldwell, 8-0.
No. 2 – Elizabeth Jacobi/Mary Bain, SEU, def. Julia Shviadok/Elizabeta Abramovic, 8-1.
No. 3 – Amy Cabato/Julie Vo, UCO, def. Alexandra Henry/Heather Bain, 8-5.
Singles
No. 1 – Tompkins, SEU, vs. Donovan, 6-3, 3-4, unfinished.
No. 2 – DelBosaue, SEU, vs. Shviadok, 6-2, 4-3, unfinished.
No. 3 – M. Bain, SEU, def. Vo., 6-0, 6-1.
No. 4 – Jacobi, SEU, vs. Abramovic, 7-5, 0-3, unfinished.
No. 5 – H. Bain, SEU, def. Caldwell, 6-2, 6-0.
No. 6 – Henry, SEU, def. Cabato, 6-2, 6-4.