University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

UCO Takes Third At MIAA Meet

4/21/2013 4:05:00 PM

Kristin Richardson

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 21) – Central Oklahoma moved a step closer to returning to the NCAA Division II national tournament here Sunday with a 5-1 rout of Northwest Missouri in the third place match of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship.

The Bronchos, who were ranked third in last week's Central Region poll behind league champion Southwest Baptist and runner-up Northeastern State, are expected to receive an at-large bid into the national playoffs when the tournament field is announced Tuesday.

“This was an important match for us and one we knew we had to have to get into the national tournament,” said seventh-year head coach Natalya Nikitina-Helvey, who has led UCO to the Division II playoffs four of the last five years. “We came out and played well today and I'm proud of my players for the season we've had.”

The Bronchos improved to 17-3, getting a key victory from Laura Klingert and Kristin Richardson in taking two of the three doubles matches before finishing it off with three easy singles wins.

Klingert and Richardson prevailed 9-8 at No. 3, with Petra Pesic and Alina Gorina rolling to an 8-2 triumph at No. 2.

Pesic, Richardson and Antonella Rossini picked up straight-set singles wins to wrap up the dual.

UCO 5, Northwest Missouri 1
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Camila Quesada/Alexis Bartek, NWMSU, def. Antonella Rossini/Rose Cabato, 8-4.
No. 2 –Petra Pesic/Alina Gorina, UCO, def. Natalia Galindo/Gisela Font, 8-2.
No. 3 –Kristin Richardson/Laura Klingert, UCO, def. Emily Hoffman/Leslee Feldhaus, 9-8 (12-10).
SINGLES
No. 1 – Rossini, UCO, def. Quesada, 6-1, 6-2.
No. 2 –Pesic, UCO, def. Galindo, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 3 – DNF.
No. 4 – DNF.
No. 5 – DNF.
No. 6 – Richardson, UCO, def. Hoffman, 6-2, 6-2.

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