Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX
Although Title IX came years later, Tulsa fielded various women’s sports teams through the years, going back to as early as 1904. Sports such as basketball, tennis, indoor baseball, track and field hockey were among the early women’s sports teams at The University of Tulsa. The first women’s athletics event for Tulsa (known then as Henry Kendall College) came in December 1904 when the girl’s basketball team defeated Spaulding Institute 10-2 in the only game that year.
After many years of women’s sports as a club level activity, Tulsa’s first venture at the intercollegiate level came in 1974 with the sports of golf and tennis, and volleyball closely followed.
Over the next few months, we will take a look at some of the key moments of women’s sports at The University of Tulsa as well as looking at 50 women who made an impact in their respective sports.
TAMARA HOLZHUTER - Volleyball - 1986-89
• Earned the first national honor for the Tulsa volleyball program when earning CoSIDA Academic All-America second team accolades in 1989
ALEXANDRA KICHOUTKIN - Tennis - 2007-11
• Three-time first-team all-Conference USA selection
• Compiled 109 singles wins in her career and her 33 wins in 2007-08 is the second-most for a single season
• Ranks fourth in school history for both singles wins (109) and doubles wins (91)
RACHEL THUN-BLANKENSHIP - Soccer - 2014-17
• Was a four-time first-team American Athletic Conference all-league selection
• Was The American’s 2014 Rookie of the Year and 2016 Midfielder of the Year
• Completed her career with 90 points and 31 goals scored to currently rank fifth and sixth, respectively, on the school’s career lists
EMILY THORSON - Volleyball - 2015-18
• Named first-team all-AAC honors for two years (2017, 2018)
• Completed her career with 1,149 kills to rank among the school’s top five
• Was a three-time American Athletic Conference all-academic selection
Tulsa Adds Rowing Program in 1996
Tulsa added a women’s rowing program in 1996 and raced in seven regattas that first season.
TAYLOR HORSFALL - Volleyball - 2016-19
• Was twice named the American Athletic Conference Libero of the Year (2017, 2019), while earning all-conference honors for three seasons
• Has five of the top 10 matches for digs in school history
• Possesses the top two digs matches in school history with 805 in 2019 and 755 in 2017
MICHELLE SECHSER - Rowing - 2004-08
• Was a three-time CRCA National Scholar Athlete Award winner
• Earned second-team CRCA all-region honors in 2007
• Became an Olympic athlete, placing 5th in the lightweight double sculls for the USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Two-for-Two
By 1982 all divisions of the NCAA offered national championships in women’s sports and the Tulsa women’s golf team ushered in the NCAA by winning the first golf title and said farewell to the AIAW that same season by winning the final AIAW national championship.
First National Championship
The 1980 women’s golf team won five of nine tournaments, including the school’s first national title by capturing the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Championship as Sharon Barrett and Kathy Baker paced the team with sixth-place performances.
ALEKSANDRA DURSKA - Tennis - 1999-2003
• Tied for the most singles wins in school history with 115 victories
• Was a three-time first-team all-Western Athletic Conference performer
• Won the 2001 Women’s Central Regin Championship
CAITLIN KLOPFER - Cross Country & Track - 2016-20
• Selected as the American Athletic Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year for all women’s sports in 2019-20
• Was a two-time USTFCCAA all-Midwest Region selection for cross country
• A six-time all-conference selection – twice each for cross country, indoor track and outdoor track
31-3, 20-0 and First NCAA Win
In the 35th season of women’s volleyball, 2010, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane put together its best season with an overall 31-3 record, while posting an undefeated 20-0 Conference USA season. It was also Tulsa’s second NCAA Tournament appearance with its first NCAA win 3-0 over LSU.
BETH TARUSCIO - Soccer - 1998-2001
• Was the WAC Freshman of the Year in 1998
• Named to the Soccer Buzz Freshman All-America team in 1998
• Was a two-time first-team all-WAC selection
CAITLIN CLANCY - Cross Country & Track - 2006-10
• A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America selection (2009, 2010)
• Earned all-conference honors for the outdoor pole vault and shot put in 2008
SAMANTHA VICKERS - Tennis - 2010-14
• Tied for the most singles wins in school history with 115 victories
• Helped lead Tulsa to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances
• Was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2011 and Player of the Year in 2013
JULIA SILVA - Volleyball - 2005-07
• Was a three-time Conference USA performer, earning first team honors twice and second team once
• Named the C-USA Setter of the Year in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons
• Still has three of the top-5 seasons for assists in school history
JENNY SIMMS - Soccer - 1993-96
• Still ranks as the school leader for career goals with 47 and second for points with 106
• Holds the school record for most goals (19) and most hat tricks (3) in a single season
• Was a third-team all-Central Region selection in 1996
LACEY MIDDLEBROOKS - Softball - 2011-13
• Was the 2012 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year
• Posted 45 wins in her two seasons after transferring to Tulsa
• Had a 2.21 ERA and .218 opponent hitting percentage
ALEX BECKER - Cross Country & Track - 2007-10
• A six-time USTFCCCA All-America performer –– once in cross country, twice for indoor track and three times for outdoor track
• Still holds the school record in the 10,000m outdoors with a time of 33:44.63
• Set indoor records in the mile (4:41.35), 3,000m (9:13.80) and 5,000m (15:58.53), all marks that still hold today
SARA DYER - Softball - 2005-08
• Was a four-time all-conference selection
• Earned CoSIDA Academic All-America first team honors twice (2007, 2008)
• Ended her career as the school record-holder for most hits (223) and most doubles (63), and currently ranks seventh and second on those lists
Women’s Soccer Begins in 1987
Tulsa women’s soccer debuted in the 1987 with a 6-8-4 record. After two ties and two losses to open the season, Tulsa won the program’s first game with a 4-1 over Houston Baptist.
LAUREN LINDSAY - Softball - 2007-10
• Named the C-USA Player of the Year and NFCA third-team All-America in 2010
• Was a three-time all-conference selection
• Became the first softball athlete inducted into the TU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017
JENNIFER CASSON - Rowing - 2013-17
• Was a two-time CRCA all-region second team selection
• Became an Olympic athlete, placing 12th in the lightweight double sculls for Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
MELISSA McNAMARA - Golf - 1984-88
• Won the 1988 NCAA individual championship in leading Tulsa to the team title
• Was a three-time All-American, one first-team and two second-team honors
• Later became the Tulsa head coach and went on to coach at Arizona State and Auburn
KELLY ROBBINS - Golf - 1987-91
• Was a two-time first-team All-America selection
• Named the 1991 NCAA Co-Player of the Year with Annika Sorenstam
• Went on to win 9 LGA Tour events and one major championship
STACY PRAMMANASUDH - Golf - 1998-2002
• Became the second TU athlete to earn first-team All-America honors for four years
• Placed in the top-20 in 41 of 44 collegiate tournaments
• Was the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year three times
KATHY McCONNELL-MILLER - Basketball Coach - 1999-2005
• Compiled a career 91-88 record in six seasons as head coach
• Led Tulsa to two WNIT tournaments in 2004 and 2005, while posting 19 wins each season
ASHLEY CLARK - Basketball - 2012-16
• Ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring chart with 1,531 points
• Named the American Athletic Conference’s 6th Woman of the Year in 2014-15
• Earned all-conference honors twice in The American
SHANA ROBINSON - Track & Field - 2000-04
• Was a top-10 finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year Award in 2003-04
• Won seven conference titles, three for indoor and four for outdoor track
• Still holds five school records in the sprints – 55m, 60m and 200m indoors; 100m and 200m outdoors
TALEYA MAYBERRY - Basketball - 2009-13
• Ranks second on the school’s all-time scoring chart with 1,742 points
• Was a two-time first-team all-C-USA selection
• Her 377 career assists rank second and her 269 steals is third on the school’s all-time lists
LARRISSA WILLIAMS - Basketball - 2006-10
• Was a two-time all-Conference USA selection
• Named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2009-10
• Scored the fourth most points in school history with 1,512 points
GLENDA MOORE - Soccer - 1990-94
• Completed her career with 45 goals and 100 points
• Was a first-team all-region selection in 1993
• Led Tulsa in scoring and goals scored in three separate seasons – 1992, 1993 and 1994
1976 is First Year of Volleyball at Tulsa
The first season of Tulsa volleyball came in the fall of 1976 as the Golden Hurricane posted an overall 29-16 record, won the Oklahoma Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Small College Tournament with a 6-0 record, thus advancing to the Southwest AIAW Regional Tournament and the AIAW Small College National Tournament.
ANOUSJKA VAN EXEL - Tennis - 1997-99
• Two-time Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year
• Became Tulsa’s first All-America singles performer for women’s tennis in 1998
• Finished the 1997-98 season with a school record 42 singles wins
AIMEE CREGER - Softball - 2011-14
• Was a three-time NFCA All-American
• Twice named the C-USA Pitcher of the Year
• Pitched seven no-hitters and had a school record 1,080 strikeouts in her career
JESSICA ADAMS - Volleyball - 2009-12
• Two-time Conference USA Libero of the Year
• Was a three-time AVCA honorable mention All-American
• Completed her career with 2,437 career digs
ALLISON CURTIN - Basketball - 2002-03
• Was an honorable mention All-America selection
• Scored the most single-season points in school history with 692 for a 23.1 average in 2002-03
• Was a first-team all-Western Athletic Conference performer
JODY ROSENTHAL - Golf - 1981-85
• Was Tulsa’s first-ever four-time first-team All-America selection in any sport
• Had 8 first place and 8 runner-up finishes in 33 career collegiate events
• Placed 2nd at 1982 NCAAs and 3rd at the 1985 NCAA Championship.
Golf & Tennis Take the Stage in 1974
After many years of women’s sports as a club level activity, Tulsa’s first venture at the intercollegiate level came in 1974 with the sports of golf and tennis.
JILLIAN ROBBINS - Basketball - 2003-07
• Had her jersey retired following her final game in 2007
• Set the school records for scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks and double-doubles
• Was a two-time all-conference selection, two-time defensive Player of the Year and the Conference Player of the Year once in Conference USA
AMY EDWARDS - Soccer - 1988-91
• Was a Tulsa player from 1988-91
• Led Tulsa in scoring with 21 points and goals with 10 in the 1989 season and ended her career with 71 points and 30 goals scored
• Became the first female coach for women’s soccer in 1995 and won 47 games in four seasons
STEPHANIE ROGERS – Rowing - 2009-12
• Became Tulsa’s only CRCA All-American when she earned second-team honors in 2012
• Was a 2012 all-region selection
KATHY BAKER - Golf - 1979-83
• Led Tulsa to the AIAW and NCAA titles in the same season, 1982.
• Won the 1982 NCAA individual title
• Was twice named first-team All-America
PAIGE McMURRAY - Tennis Head Coach - 1998-2005
• Compiled a 104-65 record in six seasons as the women’s tennis coach.
• Led Tulsa to the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000 and first win with a 5-3 decision over Minnesota
JILL BARRETT - Softball - 2011-14
• Was a three-time all-conference infielder
• Finished her senior season with a school record .461 batting average
• Completed her career with a .399 batting average
LILA OSCEOLA - Basketball - 1996-2000
• Was on the first team after basketball made its return in 1996
• Completed her career with 1,301 points
• Named to the 1997 all-newcomer team in the Western Athletic Conference and a 2000 second-team all-league selection
TYLER HENDERSON - Volleyball - 2009-12
•A three-time second-team All-American
•Holds five of the top 11 individual match-highs for kills, including a school record 45 against SMU in 2010
• Was a four-time first-team all-conference selection and was the Conference USA Player of the Year three times.
DALE McNAMARA - Golf Coach - 1974-2000
• Won 4 national championships and placed runner-up 5 times
• Her teams won 81 career tournaments
• Inducted into National College Golf Coaches Hall of Fame
FRIDE VULLUM - Cross Country & Track - 1996-2001
• Was the first Tulsa female to participate at the NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championships, making consecutive appearances in 1998 and 1999
• Won five Western Athletic Conference titles in her career, winning the 5,000m indoor meet in 2000, the 5,000m outdoors in 1998 and 2001, the 3,000m in 2000 and the 1,500m in 2001
• Placed 15th in the 3,000-meter run at the 1998 NCAA Outdoor Track Championships
JANETTE JAVET - Soccer - 1990-93
• Was a first-team Central Region selection in her freshman season
• Set school records with five goals and 10 points against St. Mary’s of the Plains in 1990
• Played on the U.S. Olympic Festival south team in 1990
NANCY LOPEZ - Golf - 1975-77
• Won the individual national AIAW title in 1976
• Claimed 11 collegiate tournament wins in her two seasons at Tulsa
• Won 48 LPGA tournaments and was the LPGA Player of the Year four times
The First-Known Women’s Sporting Event
The first women’s athletics event for Tulsa (known then as Henry Kendall College) came in December 1904 when the girl’s basketball team defeated Spaulding Institute 10-2 in the only game that year.
The Early Years of Women’s Sports
Although Title IX came years later, Tulsa fielded various women’s sports teams through the years, going back to as early as 1904. Sports such as basketball, tennis, indoor baseball, track, field hockey were among the early women’s sports teams at The University of Tulsa.