The Basics
No. 34 Oklahoma State returns home this weekend to take on No. 36 Arizona State on Friday at 5 p.m. and No. 35 Arizona on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Cowgirls are 10-6 on the season after a 4-1 road win over Kansas State last Friday. OSU's match against No. 28 Pepperdine, scheduled for last Sunday, was canceled due to the devastating outbreak of fires around the Stillwater area on Saturday. The two matches this weekend will provide an opportunity for Oklahoma State to get its first ranked win of the season, as all six of its losses have been to ranked opponents. There will also be a third ranked match at the GTC this weekend, as Arizona will take on No. 48 Tulsa on Sunday at 10 a.m. before meeting the Cowgirls that afternoon.
Following the Action
Both of Oklahoma State's matches this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN+ as part of Cracked Racquets CrossCourt Cast coverage. Additionally, live scoring of both matches will be available at the following link: okstate.statbroadcast.com.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State moved up two spots to No. 34 in this week's ITA team rankings and is one of nine Big 12 teams to be recognized. Texas Tech (14), UCF (17), Baylor (23), TCU (33), Arizona (35), Arizona State (36), Kansas (43) and Iowa State (53) were the other Big 12 teams to make appearances this week. In the individual singles rankings, Gracie Epps sits at No. 58 while Anastasiya Komar is at No. 81 and Marcela Lopez at No. 104. In the doubles poll, Komar and Rose Marie Nijkamp climbed to a season-best ranking of No. 39.
The Matchup
OSU is 6-2 all-time against Arizona State, with wins in each of the last five meetings. The Cowgirls swept the Sun Devils on the road last season, 4-0, in their first-ever match as the nation's top ranked team. In that match, Oklahoma State got the doubles point and singles wins from Ange Oby Kajuru, Safiya Carrington and Ayumi Miyamoto to secure the win. Against Arizona, OSU is 2-2 with the last meeting occurring in 1992. The Cowgirls won the first matchup in 1987 and again in 1991, while the Wildcats got victories in 1990 and 1992.
Phenomenal Freshman
Rose Marie Nijkamp has been a standout for Oklahoma State this season, posting records of 9-1 in singles and 11-2 in doubles to this point. The freshman from the Netherlands has been dominant, with all nine singles wins coming in straight-sets, including a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 111 Emily Sartz-Lunde from Michigan. In doubles, Nijkamp and her partner Anastasiya Komar opened the season on a seven-match win streak while picking up two ranked wins along the way, and the pair has now climbed to a season-best No. 39 in the national rankings.
Taking Care of Business
Oklahoma State is 10-0 against unranked opponents this season, with the Cowgirls sweeping opponents in eight of those wins. OSU opened the season on a five-match win streak, outscoring opponents 23-1 in that stretch, including a 4-0 win against Clemson, who is now ranked No. 31. Since then, OSU has added shutout wins over Illinois, Houston, West Virginia and Cincinnati, along with a 4-1 win against Kansas State last weekend.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• Eight of OSU's 10 wins this season have been shutouts.
• Oklahoma State has won five consecutive matches against Arizona State, outscoring the Sun Devils 22-7 in that stretch.
• Oklahoma State has won the doubles point in 11 of its 16 matches this season.
• Anastasiya Komar and Rose Marie Nijkamp are 11-2 in doubles this season on court one with two ranked wins.
• Komar and Nijkamp have provided 11 of OSU's 25 doubles wins.
• Oklahoma State is 8-2 on court two this season, with six of those wins coming from Komar.
• Oklahoma State is 27-5 on court six since the start of last season.
Oklahoma State Wins Would...
• Extend its win streak to five.
• Improve it to 12-6 on the season.
• Improve it to 6-1 in conference play this season.
• Improve it to 8-1 at home this season.
• Improve it to 7-2 all-time against Arizona State.
• Improve it to 3-2 all-time against Arizona.
• Improve it to 281-118 in the Chris Young era.
• Improve it to 133-20 all-time at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
• Give it its first ranked win of the season.
