The Basics
Oklahoma State enters the NCAA Tournament as the top national seed for the first time in program history and will host a regional for the first time since 2022. OSU will open on Saturday against the MAAC Champion Fairfield at 4 p.m. and will try to advance to meet the winner of Alabama and SMU in Sunday's regional final at 2 p.m. The Cowgirls are making their 12th-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and will look to advance past the opening weekend for the fifth time in that span.
Following the Action
Cracked Racquets will broadcast matches during the Stillwater on its YouTube channel using its CrossCourt Cast coverage. The following link is for Saturday's matches: https://youtube.com/live/yJmnD1JhpKk?feature=share. This link is for Sunday's regional final: https://youtube.com/live/Lx6xJfT1sHs?feature=share. Additionally, live scoring will be available at the following link: okstate.statbroadcast.com.
In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was ranked No. 1 in the ITA Division I rankings for the 12th-consecutive week on Tuesday. In the latest singles rankings, Ange Oby Kajuru appeared at No. 3, while Anastasiya Komar came in at No. 18, Lucia Peyre at No. 46, Safiya Carrington at No. 72 and Ayumi Miyamoto at No. 84. In doubles, Komar and Kajuru checked in at No. 3, while Komar and Raquel Gonzalez appeared at No. 37.
Collecting Hardware
In 2024, Oklahoma State has now captured its first-ever ITA Indoor National Championship, its first Big 12 Regular Season Championships since 2017 and its first Big 12 Tournament Championship since 2016. In last week's Big 12 Tournament, the Cowgirls won the title in dominant fashion, outscoring opponents 12-1 in three matches, including shutouts in the semifinal vs. No. 25 Texas Tech and in the final against No. 7 Texas.
The Perfect Season
Oklahoma State has exceeded what were already high expectations for its 2024 season, producing the only undefeated regular season in program history while sitting at 27-0, but the story doesn't end there. Sixteen of the 27 wins have come against top-30 ranked opponents, with seven coming against teams that were ranked in the top-10 at the time of the match. Going by the latest ITA rankings, the Cowgirls have beaten No. 2 Stanford, No. 3 Michigan, No. 5 Pepperdine, No. 8 UCLA, No. 9 Texas (3x), No. 12 Ohio State, No. 17 Auburn and No. 18 Oklahoma. The Cowgirls currently boast eight wins over teams ranked in the top-10 and 13 wins over top-25 teams. The seven wins against top-10 opponents on the season is yet another program record that was set in 2024.
Receiving Recognition
The Big 12 announced its year-end award on Thursday and Oklahoma State was well-represented. Ange Oby Kajuru became the third Cowgirl in program history to be named Big 12 Player of the Year, and the first since Bunyawi Thamchaiwat in 2022. LSU-transfer Anastasiya Komar was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year while Chris Young garnered Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his career. Komar and Kajuru were unanimous selections to the All-Big 12 first teams in singles and doubles, and Lucia Peyre joined then on the singles first team. Safiya Carrington and Ayumi Miyamoto we selected to the All-Big 12 second team singles, while Miyamoto and Raquel Gonzalez earned second team doubles honors.
Notable Streaks and Trends
• Oklahoma State has won the doubles point in 20 of its last 23 matches and 23 of 27 on the season.
• In singles and doubles, the Cowgirls are a combined 31-9 against nationally ranked opponents.
• Out of the No. 4 and No. 6 spots, OSU is a combined 37-4.
• Kristina Novak is 18-0 to begin the season and 4-0 against ranked opponents.
• Ange Oby Kajuru has won 14-consecutive singles matches, making her 18-3 on the season with six ranked wins.
• After starting the season 0-2, Anastasiya Komar and Ange Oby Kajuru have won 17 of their last 19 doubles matches from the No. 1 position.
• Oklahoma State is 18-0 in doubles in its last nine dual matches.
Oklahoma State Wins Would...
• Advance it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history, all coming since 2015.
• Advance it past the first round for the 10th time in its last 11 appearances.
• Improve it to 29-0, tying the second-most wins in a season in program history.
• Improve it to 16-0 at home, tying the second-most home wins in a season in program history.
• Improve it to 19-1 all-time in postseason matches at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
