Womens Tennis Defeats San Diego, 5-2

The Oklahoma women's tennis team started off their season Friday with a 5-2 win over San Diego at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. The Sooners began strong by sweeping the doubles and taking four of six singles matches.

“I was pleased with the way the we competed today,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “The girls fought hard and won the close matches, and that was the difference.”

The Sooners were strong early in the doubles taking all three matches to gain the doubles point. OU dropped only five games in all three matches. No. 23 ranked Perianu and Saluri dominated at the No. 1 spot with an 8-2 victory over Jennifer Brown and Lauren Kazarian. At No. 2, Lykina and Braver crushed Emma Murphy and Tara Livesay, 8-1. Newcomer Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) teamed up with Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) for an impressive 8-2 victory over Lauren Perl and Jenna Anderson at No.3 doubles.

In singles, the Sooners were led by No. 3 ranked Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) who won a tough three-setter over San Diego's Lauren Perl. Perianu dropped the first set 6-4, but came back to win the last two sets 7-6, 6-1. Junior Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.) dominated with a straight-set victory over Lauren Kazarian, 6-4, 6-0. Freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) and junior Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) both won their respective matches in three sets to clinch the match.

The Sooners now face Arizona Saturday, Jan. 31 at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.at 2 p.m.

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

Oklahoma 5, def. San Diego 2
Friday, January 30, 2004
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.

Singles:
1. Anda Perianu (#3) (OU) def. Lauren Perl (#41) (USD)  4-6, 7-6, 6-1
2. Emma Murphy (USD) def. Gabby Baker (OU)   6-1, 6-0
3. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Tara Livesay (USD)   3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Jennifer Brown (USD)   3-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Lauren Kazarian (USD)  6-4, 6-0
6. Catherine Heppell (USD) def. Bethany Griffin (OU)  6-4, 6-4

Doubles:
1. Perianu/Saluri (OU) def. Kazarian/Brown (USD)  8-2
2. Lykina/Braver (OU) def. Murphy/Livesay (USD)   8-1
3. Griffin/Baker (OU) def. Anderson/Perl (USD)   8-2

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