EDMOND, Okla. – In arguably the team's tightest match of the season, the Southern Arkansas Women's Tennis team mounted rallies at multiple lines in Monday afternoon's Central Region I Preliminary Round from Broncho Courts in Edmond, Oklahoma, and topped #22 Southwest Baptist 4-3 to advance to Tuesday's final against host and top-seeded Central Oklahoma (18-4). First-serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on May 22-25.
 
The Lady Muleriders, currently ranked #25 in the country, picked up their 25^th win of the season and the program's first-ever postseason victory as an NCAA member.
 
Joanna Nowakowska and Angela Vargas broke a 1-1 tie in doubles action with a 6-4 victory over the Bearcats' Jill Van Den Dungen and Dona Abohabaga. That opening-point clincher was made possible by a 6-2 win from the duo of Simone Simas and Aurora Novati against SBU's Klara Vickov and Constanca Crespo.
 
The match heated up in singles competition as a line six win for the Bearcats tied the match at 1. Moments later, SAU regained the lead as Simas rallied from a 4-0 deficit in set two to win 6-4 and take the line in straight sets. Southwest Baptist answered with a victory at line five to even the match at 2.
 
Novati suffered a tough defeat at line two as she fell 7-5, 7-6, but Nowakowska rallied from down 4-1 in set two to claim the win at the top line and even the match at 3.
 
After winning the first set 6-2, Vargas dropped set two to Vickov 6-2 which forced a decisive third set. In the final frame, Vargas, the Great American Conference's Freshman of the Year, roared back from a 4-2 deficit to take a 5-4 lead in a set that ended up being tied at 6, before the Del Rio, Texas native put away her opponent to send the Lady Muleriders' to Tuesday's final.
 
Doubles competition (2,3,1)
1. Joanna Nowakowska/Angela Vargas (SAU) def. Jill Van Den Dungen/Dona Abohabaga (SBU) 6-4
2. Simone Simas/Aurora Novati (SAU) def. Klara Vickov/Constanca Crespo (SBU) 6-2
3. Sarah Brown/Diana Cabrera (SBU) def. Serena Gill/Lena Milosevic (SAU) 7-5
 
Singles competition (6,4,5,2,1,3)
1. Joanna Nowakowska (SAU) def. Jill Van Den Dungen (SBU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Constanca Crespo (SBU) def. Aurora Novati (SAU) 7-5, 7-6
3. Angela Vargas (SAU) def. Klara Vickov (SBU) 6-2, 2-6, 7-6
4. Simone Simas (SAU) def. Diana Cabrera (SBU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Sarah Brown (SBU) def. Lena Milosevic (SAU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Dona Abohabaga (SBU) def. Serena Gill (SAU) 6-3, 6-2
           
In the Central Region II Preliminary Round, (6) Northwest Missouri State defeated (3) Augustana 4-1 and will face (2) Washburn on Tuesday for the Central Region II title.
 
SAU and UCO met previously this season on March 8 in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Bronchos won 4-0.
 
Live scoring link for Tuesday's match against the No. 7 Bronchos: http://sidearmstats.com/uco/tennis/xlive.htm.