No. 1 Cowgirls Set to Host 2024 Big 12 Championships
The Basics
No. 1 Oklahoma State (24-0, 13-0) enters the 2024 Big 12 Championships as the top seed for the first time since 2016, which also marked the last time the Cowgirls hosted the event at the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater. OSU earned a first-round BYE and will take on the winner of UCF and Kansas' match that will be played Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
Following the Action
All matches during the 2024 Women's Tennis Championships will be available to watch on ESPN+ as part of Cracked Racquets CrossCourt Cast. Additionally, live scoring will be available at the following link: big12.statbroadcast.com. Tickets to the event will be $5 per day and fans can purchase them upon arrival at the Greenwood Tennis Center or online at the following link: https://okstate.evenue.net/events/TENNIS-BIG12.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was ranked No. 1 in the ITA Division I rankings for the 10th consecutive week on Tuesday. In the latest singles rankings, Ange Oby Kajuru appeared at No. 2, while Anastasiya Komar came in at No. 15, Lucia Peyre at No. 55, Safiya Carrington at No. 62 and Ayumi Miyamoto at No. 93. In doubles, Komar and Kajuru checked in at No. 5, while Komar and Raquel Gonzalez appeared at No. 31.
Big 12 Championship History
Oklahoma State will enter the Big 12 Championship as the host site and the top seed for the second time in program history (2016) and fresh off its fourth Big 12 regular season title and first since 2017. The Cowgirls have advanced past the first round in 11 of 13 Big 12 Championships since Chris Young arrived in 2009 and have reached the final four times, winning their only title in 2016. After a first round BYE, OSU will draw either UCF or Kansas in the second round. The Cowgirls are 5-1 all-time against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship, while this is UCF's first appearance as a conference member.
Indoor National Champs
Oklahoma State captured its first-ever ITA Indoor National Championship in February in Seattle, Washington, putting an exclamation point on what has been a historic start to the season for the Cowgirls. OSU battled through a field that included 15 of the top 16 ranked teams in the country, going through then No. 14 Auburn, No. 10 Texas and No. 2 Stanford before taking down No. 5 Michigan in the title match. Head coach Chris Young and the Cowgirls took over the top spot in the ITA rankings after winning the indoor title and will now set their sights on an NCAA title run, which will be played at the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater in May.
The Perfect Season
Oklahoma State has exceeded what were already high expectations for its 2024 season, producing the only undefeated regular season in program history at 24-0, but the story doesn't end there. Fourteen of the 24 wins have come against top-30 ranked opponents, with six coming against teams that were ranked in the top-10 at the time of the match. Going by the latest ITA rankings, the Cowgirls have beaten No. 2 Michigan (twice), No. 3 Stanford, No. 7 Texas (twice), No. 8 Pepperdine, No. 10 UCLA, No. 15 Ohio State, No. 16 Auburn and No. 18 Oklahoma. The Cowgirls currently boast seven wins over teams ranked in the top-10 and 11 wins over top-25 teams. The six wins against top-10 opponents on the season is yet another program record that was set in 2024.
Asserting Dominance
After winning the ITA Indoor National Championship, Oklahoma State hasn't missed a beat as play has moved outdoors. The Cowgirls have won their 13 outdoor matches by a combined score of 66-8, including nine shutouts and five wins over opponents ranked in the top-30. On the season, the Cowgirls are now 91-23 in singles matches for a winning percentage of .798, led by Kristina Novak (16-0), Ange Oby Kajuru (17-3) and Lucia Peyre (15-5). OSU is also 42-16 (.724) in doubles behind a 15-4 year from Anastasiya Komar and Kajuru at the No. 1 position.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• Oklahoma State has won the doubles point in 17 of its last 19 matches and 20 of 24 on the season.
• In singles and doubles, the Cowgirls are a combined 27-9 against nationally ranked opponents.
• Out of the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, OSU is a combined 34-4.
• Kristina Novak is 16-0 to begin the season and 4-0 against ranked opponents.
• Ange Oby Kajuru has won 13-consecutive singles matches, making her 17-3 on the season with five ranked wins.
• After starting the season 0-2, Anastasiya Komar and Ange Oby Kajuru have won 15 of their last 17 doubles matches from the No. 1 position.
• Oklahoma State is 12-0 in doubles in its last six matches.
Oklahoma State Wins Would...
• Secure its third Big 12 Tournament title and first since 2016.
• Capture the Big 12 regular season and tournament championships in the same season for the second time in program history (2016).
• Improve it to 27-0 on the season, only the sixth time in program history it has reached that win total.
• Improve it to 14-0 at home this season, tying the second-most home wins in a season in program history.
• Improve it to 32-22 all-time in the Big 12 Championship
• Improve it to 6-0 all-time as the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Championship
• Improve it to 121-18 all-time at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
