Men's And Women's Tennis Teams Gear Up For Big 12 Championships

April 23, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma women's tennis team is set to take on Nebraska in the 2002 Big 12 Championships on Thursday, April 25, in College Station, Texas. The Sooners drew the No. 7 seed in the tournament, while the Huskers received the No. 10 seed. Nebraska defeated Oklahoma earlier this season, 4-3, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. The Sooners finished the regular season 15-7 overall and 5-6 in conference play. Oklahoma is ranked No. 53 in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings going into championship play. The Sooners won their last four matches in the Big 12 Conference after starting the season 1-6 in league play. The Huskers finished the season 13-8 overall and 3-8 in conference play. NU enters the Big 12 Tournament ranked No. 66 in the ITA national polls.

Leading the Sooners
Sophomore newcomer Anda Perianu has compiled a team high 20 singles wins and has lost only six matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Perianu, who hails from Romania, has won five consecutive matches, with her last loss coming against Baylor's Katja Kova on April 4. Freshmen Heather Saluri and Bethany Griffin hold overall records of 15-8 and 19-8, respectively, in singles play. Saluri and Griffin also hold the team lead in doubles victories with 16 and are 16-11 overall. The duo of Perianu and junior newcomer Elena Jirnova are 10-2 in doubles action on the season. Junior Annette Bryntesson and freshman Jessica Braver have also compiled an impressive record, finishing the regular season with a 15-8 doubles mark.

Mark Johnson in 14th Year of Coaching
In his 14th year as head coach at OU, Mark Johnson began the 2002 season with two 7-0 wins over Oklahoma Baptist with his five newcomers winning all five singles matches. Since, the Sooners have defeated then-No. 59 New Mexico (4-3), then-No. 22 TCU (4-3), then-No. 68 Colorado (6-1) , then-No. 40 Oklahoma State and then-No. 65 Missouri. Johnson carries a 222-110 record (.668) and led his 1999 team to the championship match at the Big 12 Tournament, earning Big 12 Tri-Coach of the Year honors. Johnson has also coached five consecutive teams to ITA Academic All-America team honors dating back to the 1997 season. Johnson was named Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1991, 1994 and 1995 after leading his teams to a combined 60-16 record in those three years. He has coached three NCAA doubles qualifiers in Nicole Kenneally and Jenny Del Valle (1994), Monique Malan and Karla Golfin (1996) and Angela Stroup and Viviana Mracnova (2000), and two singles qualifiers in Nicole Kenneally (1994) and current OU assistant coach Raluca Gheorghe (1998).

The University of Oklahoma Headington Family Tennis Center
The Sooner women played in the newly constructed OU Headington Family Tennis Center for the first time on March 29 against Texas A&M. After several years of playing on unfamiliar courts and not having a place to call home, the Sooners are competing on some of the finest courts in the state of Oklahoma. The center was officially dedicated on Saturday, April 13 prior to OU's matches with Colorado. The new tennis center is equipped with 12 NCAA championship courts and NCAA championship lighting. There is permanent seating for up to 800 spectators. The center is located at the corner of Chatauqua and Imhoff, directly south of the OU Soccer Complex.

Sooners Prepare for Big 12 Championships
The Oklahoma men's tennis team drew the No. 8 seed in the 2002 Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas. The Sooners will square off against No. 1 seed Baylor on Friday, April 26, at 10 a.m. In their only other meeting this year, Oklahoma lost to Baylor, 5-2, on April 4, in Norman. If the Sooners win, they will play the winner of the Texas A&M (3) and Colorado (6) match on Saturday at 3 p.m. OU concluded its regular season 12-11 overall, 0-7 in the Big 12 Conference. The Sooners have lost five out of their last six matches, with their only victory a 5-0 sweep over Oral Roberts on April 17. Oklahoma is 0-9 on the season against ranked opponents. Baylor ended the regular season 22-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 in league play. The Bears are ranked No. 7 in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings. Baylor's only loss of the season came on the road against then-No. 9 Pepperdine on March 8.

Leading the Sooners
Junior Chris Mitchell is 14-7 in No. 3, 4 and 5 singles play. The Jenks High School native had won five consecutive matches before losing to Nebraska's Jose Hernan, 6-4, 6-3, on April 20 at home. Mitchell and junior Tobias Kronlein are 5-3 in No. 1 and No. 2 doubles play. Freshman Alex Nomicos leads the team in singles wins with a 15-8 record at the No. 5 and 6 spots. Junior Matt Ogle is 12-6 in singles play, winning nine of his last twelve matches. Sophomore Sebastien Revol and freshman Brad Prigmore have teamed up for a 9-5 record at No. 3 doubles, while Prigmore and Ogle are 4-2 at the No. 1, 2 and 3 spots.

Head Coach Paul Lockwood
In his 15th year as the head coach Paul Lockwood finished the regular season 12-11, with nine losses coming against ranked opponents. Lockwood has experienced success with his teams over the years both on and off the court. He has compiled a 219-142 (.608) overall record and claimed the Big Eight Conference title in 1992. Lockwood was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1992 for his outstanding efforts. For five consecutive seasons, dating back to 1996-97, Lockwood's teams have earned Academic ITA All-America honors to add to their list of accomplishments.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's And Women's Tennis Teams Gear Up For Big 12 Championships

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