Two Sooners Advance To Main Draw in ITA Regionals

Four Sooners start main draw action tomorrow

Two University of Oklahoma women's tennis players fought through three tough rounds of qualifying singles matches Wednesday in the 2003 ITA Central Regional Championships at the Eccles Tennis Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) and Amanda Pratzel (St.Louis, Mo.) both advanced to the main draw and will join Sooner standouts Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and junior Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) in singles action Thursday at 8.30 a.m.

"Today really showed the strength and determination of this year's team, said head coach Mark Johnson. "Irina and Amanda fought through some tough matches to advance to tomorrow's main draw. I'm really proud of this team and their individual performances."

Seventh-seeded Lykina drilled her first round opponent Hayli Scott of Idaho State, 6-0, 6-0. Lykina then went on to defeat Timberly Greenly of Tulsa in three sets and in her final round of qualifying she crushed Maria Ruiz-Fabrega of New Mexico 6-0, 6-1. Pratzel had a tougher time defeating Nebraska's Rebecca Harvey in a third-set super tie-break in the first round. Pratzel then clinched two straight-set victories to secure a place in the main draw.

Sophomore Joi-Lee Beachler (Oklahoma City, Okla.) fought hard by winning her first two rounds before falling in the final round of qualifying. Beachler won her first round against Allision Hansen of Utah 6-2, 6-4, then went on to defeat Wyoming's Jennifer Hancock 7-5, 6-1. Beachler fell in the final round to Ines Furtmayr of Oklahoma State 6-4, 6-3. Juniors Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) and Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.) also fell in the qualifying rounds to top seeded opponents.

Two OU doubles teams will compete in main draw action Thursday beginning at 4.30 p.m. Second seeded Perianu and Saluri will compete Friday due to a first round bye.

For updated OU women's tennis results, visit www.SoonerSports.com.

First round qualifying

(7) Irina Lykina (OU) def. Hayli Scott (Idaho State) 6-0; 6-0

Amanda Pratzel (OU) def. Rebecca Harvey (Nebraska) 6-3; 3-6; 1-0[8]

Joi-Lee Beachler (OU) def. Allison Hansen (Utah) 6-2; 6-4

(1)Olga Boulytcheva (BYU) def. Bethany Griffin (OU) 6-4; 6-1

(2) Rebecca Pike (BYU) def. Jessica Braver (OU) 6-3; 5-7; 1-0[2]

Second round qualifying

(7) Irina Lykina (OU) def. Timberly Greenly (Tulsa) 6-1; 4-6; 1-0[4]

Joi-Lee Beachler (OU) def. Jennifer Hancock (Wyoming) 7-5; 6-1

Amanda Pratzel (OU) def. Lauren Simmons (Oklahoma State) 6-3; 6-4

Third round qualifying