For the first time in program history, Ohio State women's tennis has won a national championship.
Sophomore Francesca Di Lorenzo and senior Miho Kowase won the NCAA women's doubles championship 6-7, 6-4, 10-7, over Alabama's Maddie Pothoff and Erin Routliffe. The win was the school's first national championship in women's tennis.
The Buckeyes' Crimson Tide counterparts included a two-time champion in Routliffe, and they were able to end a three-season SEC streak of winning the doubles championship.
Di Lorenzo and Kowase came back from down 5-3 in the first set but couldn't finish with a win. The opponents drew even at 6-6 and went to a tiebreak where Alabama was able to secure a 7-6 victory to take the first set.
In the second, the teams continued to draw even until Ohio State was able to get a 4-3 advantage that they wouldn't relinquish. In this set, Di Lorenzo showed off her ability on the serve to propel the Buckeyes to victory and to send the match to a third-set tiebreak match.
In the tiebreak, Kowase displayed prowess on the serve and Di Lorenzo expertly returned Alabama's serves to give the Buckeyes a quick 3-0 lead before the Crimson Tide scored their first point. Alabama battled to go ahead 6-4 before Ohio State won five straight points to go ahead 9-6.
From there, the Buckeyes didn't waste much time and put away the Crimson Tide 10-7 to secure the first victory in program history.
Francesca and Miho take the breaker 10-7 and win the NCAA Doubles National Championship!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/4GCDaXjgNi
— Ohio State W Tennis (@OhioState_WTEN) May 29, 2017
Kowase will end her career as one of the most decorated women's tennis player in school history. She is currently the school's all-time singles wins leader and one of only two Buckeyes to have 100 singles and 100 doubles wins.
Di Lorenzo could potentially leave to go pro after this season or next, but should she stay at Ohio State, she will have a chance to rewrite those record books by her final season. Di Lorenzo will likely begin next season as the top-ranked singles player in the NCAA.
