Women's tennis season ends with loss to No. 1 Oklahoma State

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs Conclude Season in NCAA Second Round Against No. 1 Seed Oklahoma State

STILLWATER (SMU) — SMU (14-12) fell to No. 1 seed and undefeated Oklahoma State in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Championship, drawing the Mustangs' 2023-24 season to a close.

Overall on the season, SMU finished with a conference record of 5-1 and won 10 out of 12 matches played at their own Stylsinger/Altec Tennis Complex. The Mustangs finished with a 14-12 overall record, including wins over three nationally ranked opponents.

"It's really impressive what our team was able to do this season," head coach Jeff Nevolo said. "We overcame a lot of different challenges and took a lot of different steps forward. Making the second round of the NCAA Tournament speaks to the commitment that these student-athletes have made. I am a very grateful coach for their efforts."

The Mustangs battled hard taking on the Cowgirls who had a 28-0 record going into Sunday's contest.

Starting out the match, No. 45 Taylor Johnson and Lana Mavor paired on court one to take on the No. 3 ranked doubles pair in the country, Anastasia Komar and Ange Oby Kajuru.

The doubles point went to the Cowgirls, with Johnson and Mavor's match going unfinished while in the lead — 4-3.

Freshmen Caroline McGinley and Millie Skelton partnered on court three to fall 6-0 against Kristina Novak and Safiya Carrington/

Despite winning two games, junior Drew Morris and Hadley Doyle fell against their Oklahoma State pairing, concluding the doubles portion of the match.

Five of SMU's six opponents in singles play were nationally ranked opponents, including three within the top 50.

Morris, Doyle and Skelton lost in straight sets against the No. 3, No. 46 and No. 84 players in the country — respectively.

Johnson came back from losing her first set to taking down No. 18 Anastasiya Komar in the second, 6-4. Her match ended up going unfinished in the third set — 0-0.

Graduate student Lana Mavor, a Maine native, also battled back after losing her first set to sit at 6-6 in the middle of the second set by the end of the match.

Caroline McGinley, a freshman, was also up 5-2 in her second set by the conclusion the match.

SMU was ranked as high as No. 32 in the International Tennis Association's (ITA) rankings. Junior Drew Morris was mentioned twice in the ITA singles rankings, reaching as high as No. 109. Mavor and Johnson were once ranked the No. 27 doubles pair in the country and finished No. 45, earning an automatic qualifying spot for the 2024 Individual Championships.

The Mustangs won their second consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship and third overall, sweeping then-No. 3 seed Memphis 4-0 in the final with Lana Mavor earning the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament.

SMU also earned two of the three major American Athletic Conference postseason women's tennis honors, including Coach of the Year for head coach Jeff Nevolo and Player of the Year for graduate student Taylor Johnson.

Nevolo said Johnson, Doyle, Mavor and seniors Reka Patel and Maja Makoric have left their mark on SMU women's tennis.

"To the seniors we say thank you for taking the chance on SMU, for joining us and for pushing this program forward," Nevolo said. "Two conference championships and a win in the NCAA Tournament are two accomplishments that haven't happened in over a decade. Their fingerprints are all over this program and will be forever."

Up Next

Doubles pair Lana Mavor and Taylor Johnson turn their attention to the Individual Championships. The singles and doubles competition will be conducted May 20-25 at the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma after the conclusion of the team championship, which runs from May 17-19 at the same site.

Doubles Scores:

No. 45 Taylor Johnson/Lana Mavor (SMU) vs No. 3 Anastasia Komar/Ange Oby Kajuru (OSU)- 4-3, UF
Hadley Doyle/Drew Morris (SMU) vs Raquel Gonzalez/Ayi Miyamoto (OSU) - 6-2
Caroline McGinley/Millie Skelton (SMU) vs Kristina Novak/Safiya Carrington (OSU) - 6-0

Order of Finish - 3, 2

Singles Scores:

1. Taylor Johnson (SMU) vs No. 18 Anastasiya Komar (OSU) - 2-6, 6-4, 0-0, UF
No. 3 Ange Oby Kajuru (OSU) def. Drew Morris (SMU) - 7-5, 6-1
No. 46 Lucia Peyre (OSU) def. Hadley Doyle (SMU) - 6-3, 6-0
Lana Mavor (SMU) vs No. 72 Safiya Carrington (OSU) - 0-6, 6-6, UF
No. 84 Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. Millie Skelton (SMU) - 6-0, 6-1
Caroline McGinley (SMU) vs Kristina Novak (OSU) - 4-6, 5-2, UF

Order of Finish: 5, 2, 3

Significant 2023-24 Season Stats:
The Mustangs won their second consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship, sweeping then-No. 3 seed Memphis 4-0 in the final.
This was the Mustangs' 13th NCAA Tournament appearance, with SMU also earning a spot in back-to-back years for the fourth time in program history.
SMU advanced to the second round of NCAA play, facing off against the No. 1 seed - Oklahoma State
SMU women's tennis earned two of the three major American Athletic Conference postseason women's tennis honors, including Coach of the Year for head coach Jeff Nevolo and Player of the Year for graduate student Taylor Johnson.
Jeff Nevolo won the previously mentioned Coach of the Year accolade in back-to-back years. He has won the award in two out of his five years so far with the Mustangs.
Lana Mavor was named the 2024 Most Outstanding Performer of the 2024 AAC Championship
Hadley Doyle and Taylor Johnson were both placed on the coveted AAC All-Conference Team.
The Mustangs have been mentioned in the International Tennis Association's (ITA) rankings ten times so far, with final rankings to be determined following the conclusion of NCAA play.
SMU was ranked as high as No. 32 in the team rankings.
Junior Drew Morris was mentioned twice in the ITA singles rankings, reaching as high as No. 109 following deciding the match against then-No. 17 Vanderbilt with her three set thriller against No. 24 Bridget Stammel.
Freshmen Caroline McGinley and Millie Skelton each made their impact on the Mustangs this year. Against Wichita State, LSU and TAMUCC, McGinley secured the Mustangs' wins by earning the final point of the matches. Skelton also clinched, winning the match for SMU against UTSA in the AAC Championship Quarterfinals.
The Mustangs earned three wins over ranked opponents, including then-No. 17 Vanderbilt, then-No. 27 Denver and then-No. 47 Memphis.
Doubles pair Taylor Johnson and Lana Mavor are currently ranked No. 45 in the ITA doubles rankings and have secured an automatic qualifying spot for the 2024 Individual Championships.