Tennis Knocks Off Augustana, 5-3

TAHLEQUAH – Oklahoma Baptist won its first-ever NCAA Tournament match in women's tennis Saturday, taking down Augustana, 5-3, in the Central Region I opener.
 
The Lady Bison take on seventh-ranked Northeastern State Sunday at 1 p.m. for a chance to advance to the round of 16 in Surprise, Arizona.
 
OBU took a 2-1 lead after doubles, getting wins from Madeleine Boepple and Tahlia Walsh at No. 2, 8-4, and Alex Bowers and Caroline Abbe at No. 3, 9-8 (8-6).
 
Kim Moosbacher won at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-1, to put OBU ahead 3-1, but Augie crept back with a win at No. 6 to make it 3-2.
 
Boepple put OBU within a win of clinching with a 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 5 and Walsh earned the clincher with a third set win, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 3 singles.
 
Bowers was leading in the third set of her unfinished No. 4 singles match.
 
"We may have been a little anxious, but the nerves went away after doubles," said OBU Coach Nick Papac. "That was very good competition and it only gets better every round."
 
In facing NSU on the RiverHawks' home courts, OBU will be trying for a third consecutive match win in Tahlequah. The Lady Bison ended NSU's 33-match home court win streak last season.
 
"It's going to be tough," said Papac. "We have to come out and play a lot more aggressively in doubles."