Marina
The Emporia State University (ESU) women’s tennis team is set to make a significant return to the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Tournament for the first time since 2022.
As the fifth seed, the Hornets will face the fourth-seeded Central Oklahoma Bronchos in a high-stakes opener at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday, May 2, at 2:00 p.m.
Season Overview: Emporia State Hornets
- Overall Record: 10-9
- MIAA Record: 5-4
- Home Record: 7-1 against four-year schools
- Performance Against Ranked Teams: 1-4
- Notable Players:
- Anastasia Pesic and Paige Stranghoner: Only two Hornets with prior MIAA Tournament experience.
- Giovanna Ferreira: Honorable Mention All-MIAA; 7-11 at #1 singles.
- Yuliya Klimova: Honorable Mention All-MIAA; 8-10 at #2 singles.
- Perla Conde: Second-Team All-MIAA; 18-10 overall, 12-3 at #3 singles.
- Lilie Bizouerne: 11-7 this spring; MIAA Athlete of the Week earlier this season.
Season Overview: Central Oklahoma Bronchos
- Overall Record: 10-6
- MIAA Record: 6-3
- Recent Performance: Won four consecutive matches before a loss to Nebraska-Kearney.
- Key Players:
- Pete Komada: First-Team All-MIAA; ranked #26 nationally; 13-6 overall.
- Nefeli Zafeiri: Second-Team All-MIAA; 6-8 overall.
- Zafeiri/Ouwejan: Second-Team All-MIAA doubles team; 5-3 in MIAA play.
Previous Encounter
In their last meeting on March 28, Emporia State secured the doubles point but fell short in singles, resulting in a 6-1 loss to Central Oklahoma. Notably, Stranghoner and Pesic both pushed their singles matches to third-set tiebreakers, showcasing the team’s resilience.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Emporia State Hornets | Central Oklahoma Bronchos |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 10-9 | 10-6 |
| MIAA Record | 5-4 | 6-3 |
| Previous Meeting Result | Lost 1-6 | Won 6-1 |
| Top Singles Player | Giovanna Ferreira | Pete Komada |
| Doubles Strength | Conde/Bizouerne | Zafeiri/Ouwejan |
| MIAA Tournament Experience | Limited | Moderate |
MIAA Tournament Context
The MIAA Tournament is a single-elimination event featuring the top six teams. The winner of the Emporia State vs. Central Oklahoma match will advance to face top-seeded Nebraska-Kearney in the semifinals on Saturday, May 3, at 10:00 a.m.
Emporia State’s return to the MIAA Tournament marks a pivotal moment for the program. Facing a formidable opponent in Central Oklahoma, the Hornets will rely on their recent momentum and the standout performances of players like Perla Conde and Lilie Bizouerne.
A victory would not only signify progress but also set the stage for a challenging semifinal against Nebraska-Kearney.