Western tennis falls to UCO in Central Regional
May 8—Missouri Western women's tennis capped off its best season in more than two decades, ultimately falling to Central Oklahoma 4-1 in round two of the Central Region Tournament in Edmond, Oklahoma.
The No. 5-seeded Griffons (18-5) put up a fight against No. 1-seeded Central Oklahoma (21-1).
Esther Güemes and Claudia Iglesias took down the No. 31-nationally ranked team of Adel Abiduillina and Tizia Brocks in No. 3 doubles action.
Then the UCO pair of Nikkie Boya and Bythe Buntrock topped Ioanna Lathouri and Anaís claim the doubles point.
Western dropped matches in No 2 and No. 3 singles and were down 3-0 when Iglesias seized her team's only point of the day.
Iglesias beat Buntrock 7-5, 6-3, but No. 3-nationally ranked Mae Canete defeated Anya Chavez 6-1, 7-5 to clinch the Bronchos' next step to the Central Region Championship.
Iglesias' win over Buntrock marks the first time Central Oklahoma has yielded a point to an opponent since April 23 when the Bronchos beat Northwest Missouri State, 5-2.
Lathouri and Criado were leading in No. 4 and No. 5 singles when the match was finalized.
In their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998, the Griffons made history by collecting their first NCAA Tournament win with a victory over Harding in the first round.
Micaela Dea can be reached at micaela.dea@newspressnow.com.
Follow her on Twitter: @NPNowDea
