Top ranked SMU upset at C-USA championship

The SMU women's tennis team was upset this weekend at the Conference USA championships in Tulsa, Okla. The No. 27 Mustangs were the highest ranked team.They were also the defending C-USA champions and had gone 6-0 against fellow C-USA teams this season.

With a season record of 22-3, the SMU team received a bye for Thursday's first round and competed Friday against No. 8 seed Memphis. SMU won the quarterfinal match 4-0.

The Mustangs earned the doubles point by sweeping the doubles matches. After a quick first set, freshman Shahzoda Hatamova pulled off a second set victory to win her match 6-0, 7-5.

Freshman Edyta Cieplucha won her match 6-3, 6-3. Senior Pavi Francis played a great match, winning 6-0, 6-1.  The remaining three singles matches went unfinished as the three singles wins and doubles point assured a victory.

In Saturday's semifinals, SMU lost to No. 59 Marshall, 4-2. SMU did not earn the doubles point because Marshall took two of three doubles matches. Sophomore Aleks Malyarchikova's 6-2, 6-1 win and freshman Katerina Vankova's 6-3, 6-0 win were not enough to defeat the Marshall team.

Tulsa won the C-USA Championships, beating Marshall, 4-1. With it, Tulsa is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Championship, which will begin on May 14. The Mustangs are awaiting the selections for the tournament. Announcements will be made on May 4.