CORAL GABLES, Fla.—The No. 54-ranked University of Hawai'i women's tennis team (1-3, 1-0 BWC) fell to No. 44 Oklahoma (2-1), 5-2 in the consolation match at the ITA Kick-Off event at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
 
The Sooners captured the doubles point with the No. 55-ranked partners for Whitney Ritchie and Hermon Brhane defeating UH's Katarina Poljakova and Xenia Suworowa on the No. 1 court, 8-3. Hawai'i's Kelsey Daguio and Rebecca Faltusz pushed Oklahoma's Zita Engbroks and Mia Lancaster in the No. 3 match, but eventually fell, 8-5.
 
Suworowa had another strong showing at the ITA tournament. She dropped the first set, 2-6 but cam back to take OU's Whitney Wofford to a tie-breaker after tying the set at 6-6. Wofford, however then pulled away, 7-3 in the tie-break to win in straight sets. Hawai'i picked up their first point with Poljakova at the No. 1 spot. Poljakova dropped the first set 5-7, but battled back to even the match against Ritchie 6-3 in the second set. Ritchie however then retired in the match to give UH their first point.
 
No. 6 Faltusz took her match against Abbi Melrose to three sets. Melrose took the first set 6-3, but Faltusz fought back to win the second set 6-2. But it was Melrose who came on strong in the third, winning 6-1 in the third set.
 
No. 5 Daguio then came through with UH's only win in the two-day Kick-Off tourney. Daguio captured the first set over Engbroks, 7-5 but lost the second set 1-6. Daguio then bounced back to win 6-3 in the deciding set.
 
Hawai'i's three losses this season have come against No. 47 Washington, No. 9 Miami, and No. 44 Oklahoma. Their win came in a Big West match against Cal Poly.
 
Hawai`i will return home to Honolulu before heading to California for a four-game road-swing with three conference matches against Cal State Fullerton (Feb. 13), UC Riverside (Feb. 14), and Long Beach State (Feb. 16), as well as one non-conference match at San Diego (Feb. 19).
 
 
 
#44 Oklahoma 5, #54 Hawaii 2
Jan. 26, 2013 at Coral Gables, Fla.
Neil Schiff Tennis Center
Results
 
Singles competition
1. Katarina Poljakova (UH) def. Whitney Ritchie (OU) 5-7, 6-3, retired
2. Hermon Brhane (OU) def. Martina Kostalova (UH) 6-1, 6-1
3. Whitney Wofford (OU) def. Xenia Suworowa (UH) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
4. Mia Lancaster (OU) def. Paulina Petriskova (UH) 6-3, 6-1
5. Kelsey Daquio (UH) def. Zita Engbroks (OU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
6. Abbi Melrose (OU) def. Rebecca Faltusz (UH) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. #55 Whitney Ritchie/Hermon Brhane (OU) def. Katarina Poljakova/Xenia Suworowa (HAW) 8-3
2. Emma Devine/Abbi Melrose (OU) vs. Paulina Petriskova/Martina Kostalova (UH) unfinished
3. Zita Engbroks/Mia Lancaster (OU) def. Kelsey Daquio/Rebecca Faltusz (HAW) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
Hawaii 1-3; National ranking #54
Oklahoma 2-1; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (4,2,3,1,6,5)