Women’s Tennis Advances to SEC Semifinals

Friday, April 18

Auburn, AL

9 AM

University of Oklahoma

LSU

Women’s Tennis Advances to SEC Semifinals

April 18, 2025 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: OU Athletics Communications

AUBURN, Ala. – The fifth-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team opened its first SEC Championship appearance with a 4-1 quarterfinal win over No. 11 LSU on Friday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center on the campus of Auburn University.

With the win, Oklahoma will face the winner of No. 2 Georgia and No. 10 Tennessee in the tournament semifinals Saturday at noon CDT.

The win marked the Sooners' second all-time victory over LSU, with the first coming April 6 in Baton Rouge. Oklahoma (19-5, 12-4 SEC) also extended its winning streak to seven matches, tying its season best.

After dropping the doubles point decisively in the teams' first meeting this season, the Sooners flipped the script, grinding out their 14th doubles point of the year to open the match.

The Sooners took an early lead in doubles as No. 36 Alina Shcherbinina and Julia Garcia Ruiz won four straight games to erase a 3-2 deficit and defeat No. 3 Cadence Brace and Kayla Cross, 6-3. LSU answered on court two, where No. 65 Kenna Erickson and Anita Sahdiieva posted a 6-4 win over Salakthip Ounmuang and Chloé Noël. After 55 minutes of play, the doubles point was decided on court three, where Ava Catanzarite and Gloriana Nahum edged out a 7-5 win over Tilwith Di Girolami and Gaby Rivera.

Just as they did in their first matchup with the Tigers, the Sooners came out strong in singles play.

Snapping a two-match skid, Gloriana Nahum sparked the Sooners' singles rally with a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Kenna Erickson on court six. The senior leads the team with 15 dual-match victories, including 14 in straight sets.

Ava Catanzarite followed with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kinaa Graham on court five. The senior leads the team with 16 dual-match victories, including 15 in straight sets.

No. 66 Emma Staker clinched the match for Oklahoma with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Anita Sahdiieva on court four. The Tulsa native tied Stefanie Flory (1982) for the program record with 101 career singles wins.

When play was halted, No. 29 Julia Garcia Ruiz trailed in a third set to No. 48 Kayla Cross, while Salakthip Ounmuang was aiming for a straight-set win over Tilwith Di Girolami. On Court 1, No. 32 Alina Shcherbinina fell to No. 15 Cadence Brace, 6-1, 1-0.

The Sooners now await the winner of No. 2 Georgia and No. 10 Tennessee for their semifinal match Saturday at noon CDT. The match will stream on SEC Network+.

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RESULTS

#5 Oklahoma 4, #11 LSU 1

Singles competition

1. #15 Cadence Brace (LSU) def. #32 Alina Shcherbinina (OU) 6-1, 6-0
2. #29 Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) vs. #48 Kayla Cross (LSU) 4-6, 6-1, 0-3, unfinished
3. Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) vs. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) 7-5, 3-4, unfinished
4. #66 Emma Staker (OU) def. Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Ava Catanzarite (OU) def. Kinaa Graham (LSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Kenna Erickson (LSU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. #36 Julia Garcia Ruiz/Alina Shcherbinina (OU) def. #3 Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) 6-3
2. #65 Kenna Erickson/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. Chloe Noel/Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) 6-4
3. Ava Catanzarite/Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Tilwith Di Girolami/Gaby Rivera (LSU) 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,1,5,4)