Perianu Earns No. 3 ITA National Ranking

Oklahoma senior standout Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) has earned a preseason No. 3 ITA women's tennis national singles ranking. Perianu becomes the highest ranked Big 12 player since 1998 and is the highest nationally ranked player ever to compete for the Sooners.

"This ranking gives me a lot of confidence, and I needed that confidence to step up to a higher level. Many people believed in me that I could make it to this level, but I needed to believe in myself. I just look forward to this season and that I can continue playing well for the team."

The ranking reflects Perianu's impressive results last fall in which she captured the 2003 ITA Central Regional Championship, was a finalist of the 2003 ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships and defeated three top-10 players along the way.

Perianu has continued to build upon her already lengthy resume under head coach Mark Johnson. Perianu finished last season with Big 12 Player of the Year honors and an appearance in the NCAA Individual Championships in both singles and doubles. Perianu won the Big 12 No. 1 position title and posted an overall singles record of 27-6 last season.

In doubles, Perianu and her partner, junior Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa), earned an preseason ITA national ranking of No. 23. The OU duo had a strong fall and finished off with a record of 6-2, while posting a solid 23-4 record last season.

Perianu and the Sooners begin regular season action against San Diego at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 30, at 10 a.m.

For more information on OU's results, visit www.SoonerSports.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Perianu Earns No. 3 ITA National Ranking

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