EDMOND, Okla. -- In the third meeting between the two teams this season No. 17 Washburn prevailed for the first time, defeating No. 33 Central Oklahoma 4-1 on the road to advance to the NCAA National Championships. The Ichabods head to nationals for the 5th time in program history and first since the 2023-24 season, the tournament will begin May 19 in Surprise, Arizona.
Renske Ubachs and Riko Konno set the tone early jumping out to a 5-0 lead at No. 2 doubles and went on to win 6-2, giving Washburn (20-4) the edge early. The Bronchos (18-4) evened up doubles play with No. 7 ranked Mei Hasegawa and Pete Komada winning 6-2 on the top court over No. 40 Saajida Razick and Jasel Bailey. Mariana Silva Balsa and Daniela Tijaro fought off tight points late at No. 3 to win 6-3 and clinch the first point of the match.
As singles play began Central Oklahoma was able to even the match up on court six as Charlotte Bair fell in two sets, 6-1 and 6-0. Playing on court five Jasel Bailey battled to win a 6-3 opening set and in the second set cruised to a 6-0 sweep, making it 2-1. Daniela Tijaro took early leads in both sets at No. 3 and won 6-3 in the first and 6-2 in the second to set up match point for the Ichabods.
In a battle on court two No. 59 RIko Konno came up just short in her first set, losing a 7-6(4) tiebreaker to No. 54 Pete Komada. She rallied in the second set and responded with a 6-2 victory to force a third. In the third she jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, winning 6-1 to clinch Washburn's trip to the national tournament with a 4-1 victory.
No. 31 Renske Ubachs trailed 1-2 in her third set at No. 1 against No. 20 Mei Hasegawa while Saajida Razick was just beginning her third set on court four when the match was decided.
Doubles competition:
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1. #7 Hasegawa,Mei/Komada,Pete (UCO) def. #40 Bailey,Jasel/Razick,Saajida (WU) 6-2
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2. Konno,Riko/Ubachs,Renske (WU) def. Ouwejan,Anika/Koga,Ayaka (UCO) 6-2
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3. Silva Balsa, Mariana/Tijaro,Daniela (WU) def. Soo,Hui/Yurchenko,Karyna (UCO) 6-3
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Order of finish: 2, 1, 3
Singles competition:
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1. #20 Hasegawa,Mei (UCO) vs. #31 Ubachs,Renske (WU) 6-3, 3-6, 2-1, unfinished
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2. #59 Konno,Riko (WU) def. #54 Komada,Pete (UCO) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1
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3. Tijaro,Daniela (WU) def. Ouwejan,Anika (UCO) 6-3, 6-2
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4. Yurchenko,Karyna (UCO) vs. Razick,Saajida (WU) 2-6, 6-4, unfinished
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5. Bailey,Jasel (WU) def. Soo,Hui (UCO) 6-3, 6-0
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6. Koga,Ayaka (UCO) def. Bair,Charlotte (WU) 6-1, 6-0
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Order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 2
