Tulsa Downs Top-Seeded Florida Atlantic in AAC Semifinal

The University of Tulsa women’s tennis team has punched its ticket to the American Athletic Conference Championship Final after surviving a four-hour and 35-minute slugfest Saturday and winning 4-3 against the tournament’s No. 1 seed Florida Atlantic during the semifinal round at the Leftwich Tennis Center in Memphis. Sophomore Erin McKenzie clinched the win for Tulsa in a 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5) decision at Singles No. 6.

The No. 4 seed Golden Hurricane spoiled the Owls’ perfect season, handing them their first and only loss during an otherwise dominant campaign. FAU (16-1) was the only undefeated women’s team in the nation entering Saturday’s contest.

The AAC women’s final is set for a 2 p.m. start on ESPN+ after the men’s final. It’ll be a rematch for TU, who will take on six-seed Memphis (9-13) on the Tigers’ home courts. Tulsa won the previous match, 4-2, in the regular-season finale in Memphis.

Tulsa will compete for its fourth AAC title and ninth overall conference crown on Sunday in its seventh all-time AAC title-game appearance, all of which have come under 20th-year Head Coach Dean Orford. TU enters the title match with a 20-6 all-time record in the American tournament. The last time the Hurricane played for the AAC title was against Memphis in 2022, falling short in a 4-3 decision in Tulsa.

Tulsa earned its 20th doubles point of the season when freshman Isabella Basson and sophomore Tayla Wilmot claimed the No. 3 spot 6-3 and seniors Maria Berlanga Bandera and Lily Hutchings prevailed 7-5 in the top line, leaving senior pair Ana Naranjo Martinez and Mariana Manyoma Velasquez unfinished up 5-3 in the second court.

The Hurricane then jumped out to a 3-0 lead following straight-set victories by Berlanga (6-2, 6-0) and Velasquez (6-3, 6-1) in the first and second positions, respectively. It was Berlanga’s 26th overall win of the year and fourth consecutive victory atop the lineup, while Velasquez moved to 17-6 overall.

The Owls flexed their singles depth by coming back to tie up the dual match at 3-3 with straight-set decisions in the Nos. 4 and 5 positions and a three-set battle at Singles No. 3. When FAU tied up the match, all eyes moved to sophomore Erin McKenzie against Mille-Mae Matthews in the six-spot.

McKenzie found herself in the middle of a gritty back-and-forth fight for the final point of the match. She was down by a set and was falling behind at 6-5 when all the attention shifted to her. Using smart swings and keeping her composure, she converted in a tiebreak set at 6-6, winning the tiebreaker 7-1 to force a third stanza.

In the third set, McKenzie broke a 2-2 deadlock and pulled ahead to 5-3. Then, Matthews fought back and forced another 6-6 tiebreak set. In the deciding tiebreak, it was McKenzie’s grit, determination and stamina that pulled her ahead for the 7-5 win, concluding a three-hour, 48-minute singles match for the final result of 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5).

Singles

1. #86 Maria Berlanga Bandera (TU) def. Panna Bartha (FAU) 6-2, 6-0

2. Mariana Manyoma Velasquez (TU) def. Victoria Gomez O’Hayon (FAU) 6-3, 6-1

3. Lara Smejkal (FAU) def. Lily Hutchings (TU) 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4

4. Malwina Rowinska (FAU) def. Tayla Wilmot (TU) 7-5, 6-2

5. Alexandra Silna (FAU) def. Ana Naranjo Martinez (TU) 6-2, 6-2

6. Erin McKenzie (TU) vs. Millie-Mae Matthews (FAU) 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5)

Doubles

1. #43 Berlanga/Hutchings (TU) def. Smejkal/Rowinska (FAU) 7-5

2. Naranjo/Velasquez (TU) vs. Matthews/Gomez (FAU) 5-3, unfinished

3. Basson/Wilmot (TU) def. Silna/Bartha (FAU) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (1,2,5,4,3,6)