TennisBears (20-7) take on #10 Oklahoma State (19-7) at Stillwater on Friday starting at 5pm.....
Only common opponents were Tulsa (we lost 1-4 and Cowgirls won 4-1...TU was #22 at the time) and #25 Auburn ( we lost 3-4 and OSU won 4-2)…..
https://ucasports.com/news/2019/4/29/tennis-bears-to-face-oklahoma-state-in-ncaa-tournament.aspx?path=wtenCONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas tennis team found themselves surrounded by excited fans in the Bear Hall Suites on Monday night as they gathered to watch the NCAA Selection Show. After much anticipation and multiple teams were announced, the Bears were finally told that they would be traveling to Stillwater, Oklahoma for a first-round matchup with host Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Friday.
Just two quick days after winning their first SLC Tournament Title in program history, the Bears will prepare to represent the Southland Conference in the NCAA Tournament for the first time.
MEET THE COWGIRLS
Not to be confused with the Cowgirls from McNeese, Oklahoma State will be making its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance when they open with Central Arkansas on Friday. After falling to the Kansas Jayhawks 4-2 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament, the U.S Tennis Association placed the Cowgirls at No. 10 in the women's poll for the second consecutive weekend on April 24. The team will host its fifth-straight NCAA Regional and will enter Friday's match with a record of 19-7. Although the record displays seven losses, the Cowgirls finished 8-1 in Big 12 play and captured regular season wins over ranked opponents like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. The team is led by three seniors, including Sofia Blanco who represented her team as the Female Athlete of the Year at the Inaugural Cowboy Choice Awards on April 22.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH CASEY WHARTON
After the opponent was announced and the watch party settled down, Wharton was all smiles.
"I'm just excited, more so because the players will get recognition of who they are and what they're doing," Wharton said. "They're special and I think it's great that people are seeing it. There were a lot of people who were part of making this happen that didn't get recognition. People who have encouraged and loved them since they've been here. I couldn't have seen this happen without them.
It's just a special day and very exciting moment."
Wharton said that he knows that the Cowgirls will be tough, but he wants to focus more on getting his players ready for the unique atmosphere.
"They're good. Any team that is hosting the NCAA Tournament is good," Wharton said. "More than anything, I don't think it's the level of tennis that I'm thinking the most about but more the atmosphere. We play good tennis against good teams, but it hasn't been against a Big 12 crowd. If they're the host and they're going to have fans, it could be rowdy and easily distracting. Tennis is tennis and the courts will be the same as always, my biggest focus is getting them comfortable in that setting.
I think it can happen really fast and I don't want them to miss anything. If we get beat, we get beat and if we win, we win so I want them to be aware and enjoy it."
MATCH DETAILS
The Bears and Cowgirls match is set to begin at 5 p.m. in Stillwater, Oklahoma at the Greenwood Tennis Center on Friday. Follow @UCATennis on Twitter for updates on how to follow the match from home.
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