Cowgirls' winning ways breed confidence

 The Cowgirls' improvement is bringing confidence so far this season.

The women's tennis team got that confidence boost after defeating Denver University 6-1 Friday at the DeBois Tennis Complex in Stillwater.

It was the Cowgirls' (5-2) first home match of the season and they had to deal with windy conditions.

"Playing here in Oklahoma, the wind is going to be a factor," coach Chris Young said. "We've been practicing in the wind the last couple of weeks and that's one of the advantages when teams come play here. Hopefully we're more prepared for that."

It wasn't just the women's first match of the year, but it was Young's first home match as the Cowgirl coach.

 "I think we had a good crowd come out," Young said. "It was a good start at least. I think the girls were a little bit nervous and I think that showed a little bit early. Once they settled down things really got going."

Young said playing at home was an advantage against the Pioneers (3-10).

"I'm sure Denver hasn't played outside too much," Young said. "We've been able to get outside the first couple of weeks and that definitely helped us out. I think at this point in time we are trying to take every advantage that we can, and I think that any time you play at home it should be an advantage."

Cowgirl junior Sasha Belova won at No. 2 singles  in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(4). She said when the wind picked up in the second set, the match became more challenging.

"I don't know why, but I felt the wind more in the second set than I did in the first set," Belova said. "It was a little complicated for me to find a way to finish the game."

The Cowgirls won two of the three doubles matches to win the doubles point, and followed it up with singles victories at every position except at No. 1.

Junior Nataliya Shatkovskaya won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3, while sophomore Alisa Buslaieva lost 6-2, 6-3 at No. 1.

Freshmen No. 5 Malika Rose and No. 6 Alex Cristello both won in straight sets.

Junior Sarah Meghoufel finished the match after defeating senior Lorinda Boothman 4-6, 7-5, 10-3 at No. 4.

Meghoufel said she was frustrated most of the match, but gives Young credit for helping her win.

"I knew how to play against this girl, but I could not apply it in the beginning," Meghoufel said. "I think it was mental, but I was thinking about the wind and where my shots were going. When Chris came to talk to me, he told me to keep fighting and applying the strategy."

Friday was also Meghoufel's first home match as a Cowgirl and she said she enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd.

"It was exciting," Meghoufel said. "I'm glad we have a lot of home matches this year. It will be fun."