Cowgirls to host handful of teams during ITA kickoff weekend

can play the same teams year after year.” lot of older players on the team.”

Familiar faces and new challengers are serving it up in Greenwood Tennis Center this weekend.

The OSU Cowgirls look to start their home season during ITA Kickoff Weekend. Teams in Oregon, Kansas and Michigan are headed to the Greenwood Tennis Center to take part in a four team bracket lasting Saturday and Sunday.

OSU starts out its draw with a matchup against Oregon. In his 13 years of coaching at OSU, coach Chris Young has never had a team play against the Ducks, creating a new opportunity to leave a mark on a different program.

“You just don’t know a lot about them and just how their players react,” Young said. “I think it’s pretty exciting just to see somebody new because oftentimes we

While not on the same side of the bracket, Kansas is a familiar conference opponent for the Cowgirls. Since Young’s time at the helm of Cowgirl tennis, he has never lost to the Jayhawks in Stillwater. Regardless of this fact, the Cowgirls may not even face off against the Jayhawks during the weekend. This conference matchup is only possible if both Kansas and Oklahoma State win or lose their respective matches.

Undoubtably the hottest team hitting the court in Stillwater this weekend is Michigan. The Wolverines are making waves in the NCAA early, as the team took down No. 4 Oklahoma in a swift defeat of 5-2 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Michigan looks to cause even more of a stir in the Big 12 in facing Kansas and potentially Oklahoma State.

“They made a statement that they’re probably a top 10 team this year,” Young said. “They could be higher ranked when the rankings come out. You never know. That’s going to be a really strong team. A

Michigan won five of the six singles matches played against Oklahoma, surrendering the doubles point before blitzing the Sooners in singles. While singles play is where most matches are won, the Cowgirls look to attack strong in doubles.

Ayumi Miyamoto, a senior for the Cowgirls, is taking on a new role in doubles this season. With her usual partner Lisa Marie Rioux not yet on the roster, she has the opportunity to share her experience with the youngest player on the team, Lucia Peyre.

“She likes to play singles, not doubles,” Miyamoto said. “We need to find a way to find a new strategy, and we are still working on it.”

The team is wanting any and all fans to be in attendance for kickoff weekend, with the official Cowgirl Tennis Twitter account stating “Show up. Show out. Get rowdy.”