Perianu and Saluri Claim First Round Victories in ITA Regionals

OU Women's Tennis goes 3-3 in first round action

The University of Oklahoma women's tennis team started off strong in main draw action Thursday in the 2003 ITA Central Regional Championships at the Eccles Tennis Center, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two sinlges players and one doubles pair advanced to the round of 32.

Sooner standouts Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) comfortably won their opening singles matches of the tournament to secure a place in the second round. Second seeded Perianu cruised to a straight-set victory, crushing Boise State's Alisa Ayling 6-3, 6-1. Saluri also claimed a two-set win over qualifier Iliana Pacheco of Arkansas 6-4, 7-5.

In OU's toughest doubles match of the day, junior Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) and freshman Amanda Pratzel (St. Louis, Mo.) had an impressive win over Iowa State's No. 1 doubles pair of Sabrina Evers and Eve Soriana 9-8. Griffin and Pratzel were down 7-4 but came back to win in a tie-break to clinch the match.

Performing strong for the Sooners were freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) and Amanda Pratzel (St. Louis. Mo.) Both qualified for the main draw by winning three matches but fell in first round action Thursday. Lykina fell to Barbara Zahnova of BYU in a tough three-setter and Pratzel lost to Iva Gersic of New Mexico 6-4, 6-0. In doubles action junior Jessica Braver (Edmond Okla.) and Lykina lost a tight match to Idaho State's pair of Melissa Bessman and Hayli Scott 9-7.

Perianu and Saluri compete in singles action beginning Friday at 8.30 a.m. and doubles is scheduled for 4.30 p.m.

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

First round singles (round of 64)

(2) Anda Perianu (OU) def. Alisa Ayling (Boise State) 6-3, 6-1

Heather Saluri (OU) def. Iliana Pacheco (Arkansas) 6-4, 7-5

(3) Barbara Zahnova (BYU) def. Irina Lykina (OU) 3-6, 6-0, 7-6

(9) Iva Gersic (New Mexico) def. Amanda Pratzel (OU) 6-4, 6-0

First round doubles (round of 64)

Griffin/Pratzel (OU) def. Evers/Soriana (Iowa State) 9-8

Bessman/Scott (Idaho State) def. Braver/Lykina (OU) 9-7