Grand Home Finale

4/12/2011 10:18:45 PM

Lacy Caldwell

EDMOND (April 12) – Lacy Caldwell, Eli Abramovic and Anto Rossini all pulled all key singles wins to spark Central Oklahoma to a 5-4 Lone Star Conference upset of No. 21-ranked Northeastern State here Tuesday afternoon.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the streaking Bronchos, who improved to 15-8 on the year and 6-2 in the league with their eighth win in nine outings in the home finale.

Caldwell rallied from an early deficit to win her final home match, Abramovic celebrated a birthday with a straight-set victory and Rossini overcame a first-set loss to give UCO the three singles wins needed after the Bronchos won two of the three doubles bouts in the thrilling five-hour battle.

“It was such a battle and both teams displayed so much passion and work ethic,” UCO coach Natalya Nikitina-Helvey said. “It was one of those matches when even if you lose you know your girls have done absolutely everything possible to win, but of course it was nice to get the win in such a match.

“It was a great way to end our home season for our senior, Lacy. I am extremely proud of my team and my assistant coach (Saman Samii)for pulling out such a tough victory. We all came together as a team, played with heart and represented UCO with pride.”

The Bronchos won two of the three doubles matches to take an early 2-1 lead, getting identical 8-6 victories from Julia Shviadok and Abramovic at No. 1 and Rose Cabato and Anna Kochigina at No. 3

UCO then stayed ahead by splitting the six singles bouts, though that wasn't without drama.

Rossini lost her first set at No. 4 6-4 before roaring back with back-to-back 6-4 wins, while Caldwell won five straight games to overcame a 4-1 first-set deficit in prevailing 6-4, 6-1 at No. 3. Abramovic had a 6-3, 6-3 triumph at No. 2.

The Bronchos go to Missouri this weekend to finish the regular season with four duals before competing in the Lone Star Conference Championships April 22-23 in Oklahoma City.

UCO 5, Northeastern State 4
Doubles
No. 1 – Julia Shviadok/Eli Abramovic, UCO, def. Michaela Romanova/Houda Bellamine, 8-6.
No. 2 – Ivana Belejova/Jeanne Mallem, NSU, def. Lacy Caldwell/Anto Rossini, 8-6.
No. 3 – Rose Cabato/Anna Kochigina, UCO, def. Karol Cichon/Agata Skorupska, 8-6.
Singles
No. 1 – Romanova, NSU, def. Shviadok, 6-2, 6-7, 6-6 default.
No. 2 – Abramovic, UCO, def. Cichon, 6-3, 6-3.
No. 3 – Caldwell, UCO, def. Skorupska, 6-4, 6-1.
No. 4 – Rossini, UCO, def. Belejova, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 5 – Bellamine, NSU, def. Kochigina, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3.
No. 6 – Mallem, NSU, def. Cabato, 6-4, 7-5.

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