No. 22 Women's Tennis Prevails in Epic Big 12 Semifinal Over No. 17 Oklahoma State 4-3No. 22 Women's Tennis Prevails in Epic Big 12 Semifinal Over No. 17 Oklahoma State 4-3

No. 22 Women's Tennis Prevails in Epic Big 12 Semifinal Over No. 17 Oklahoma State 4-3

by Alex Clough

WACO, Texas - It doesn’t get more dramatic than that.

Down four match points in a winner-take-all third set on court one, Olivia Lincer did the improbable, emerging from the corner to claim victory for the No. 22 UCF women’s tennis team in the Big 12 Championship semifinals against No. 17 Oklahoma State, 4-3.

Originally in a 4-1 hole after the Cowgirls leveled the duel at three apiece, the reigning freshman of the year showed her newfound experience, weathering the storm under overcast clouds and showers at the Hurd Tennis Center to punch the Black and Gold’s ticket into tomorrow’s title decider.

The second 4-3 triumph for the Knights over Oklahoma State this season, UCF will now play for the double, having already secured a share of the regular-season crown. 

Each team authored the exact same doubles lineups to March’s duel in Stillwater, and once again, the Knights held it down on the back two courts to secure the early advantage. While the regular-season contest saw a pair of tiebreak deciders, neither three courts surpassed the 10-game mark this afternoon.

The Cowgirls claimed a ranked court-one matchup in swift fashion as the No. 5 tandem of Anastasiya Komar and Rose Marie Nijkamp defeated the No. 41 duo of Olivia Lincer and Hannah Rylatt. Though the early break wouldn’t linger for the third-seed, with the Knights immediately responding emphatically within seconds of each other.

Sophia Biolay and Aya El Aouni continue to be unplayable on court two, besting Kylie Collin and Marcela Lopez, 6-3, to tally their 12th consecutive win, having not lost a contest or gone unfinished since February. The freshman tandem on court three followed suit, as Olivia Bergler and Jade Psonka controlled their bout with Gracie Epps and Melisa Ercan from start to finish, clinching the lead for UCF via a 6-2 triumph.

With precedent of a nearly four-hour-long bout in Stillwater, each squad knew the contest was still up for grabs. Splitting first sets to open singles play, the Cowgirls quickly turned their deficit into an advantage.

74th-ranked Komar won the rematch of the court one decider back in March, defeating El Aouni on two, 6-2, 6-3. Minutes later, 122nd-ranked Nijkamp tallied a win on court four opposite Psonka, 6-2, 6-2.

However, in a similar fashion to how they took the lead, the Knights snatched it right back with victories on courts three and six. On the anchor, Rylatt notched her fourth consecutive win in yet another straight-set display, defeating Alian Zack, 6-2, 6-3.

Across the courts, 112th-ranked Biolay put the finishing touches on a strong performance of her own, besting Collins in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. The 17th singles win of her 2025 campaign, the captain has made court three her home, boasting an 11-1 record.

Between two of the Big 12’s best, it was bound to come down to the wire. Oklahoma State’s Gracie Epps bounced back after falling in the opening set to even the bout at three-all with her win over Bergler on court five, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Fitting that the contest once again came down to the first court, Lincer battled throughout the second to force the rubber set. Having not clinched a match all season until just over 20 days ago, the Polish native was now staring down the barrel of what could be her third in three weeks. 

After defying four match points, Lincer found her stride when it mattered most, dominating the tiebreak from start to finish before her teammates, standing just feet away on court three, could embrace her.

UP NEXT

The Knights will get their shot at redemption against first-seeded and No. 15 Texas Tech tomorrow afternoon. First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT from Waco. 

Singles Results

  1. #98 Olivia Lincer (UCF) def. Melisa Ercan (OSU) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)
  2. #74 Anastasiya Komar (OSU) def. Aya El Aouni (UCF) 6-2, 6-3
  3. #112 Sophia Biolay (UCF) def. Kylie Collins (OSU) 6-2, 6-4
  4. #122 Rose Marie Nijkamp (OSU) def. Jade Psonka (UCF) 6-2, 6-2
  5. #76 Gracie Epps (OSU) def. Olivia Bergler (UCF) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
  6. Hannah Rylatt (UCF) def. Alien Zack (OSU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles Results

  1. #5 Anastasiya Komar/Rose Marie Nijkamp (OSU) def. #41 Olivia Lincer/Hannah Rylatt (UCF) 6-3
  2. Sophia Biolay/Aya El Aouni (UCF) def. Kylie Collins/Marcela Lopez (OSU) 6-3
  3. Olivia Bergler/Jade Psonka (UCF) def. Gracie Epps/Melisa Ercan (OSU) 6-2