OU Womens Tennis Edges Arizona, 4-3

In only its second match of the season, the Oklahoma women's tennis team pulled off a stunning 4-3 win over 27th-ranked Arizona Saturday at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. The Sooners (2-0) dropped the doubles point, but fought back to take four of the six singles matches to clinch the victory.

“It was a great win today,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “To beat a tough team on their home courts, outside in difficult conditions, so early in the season showed great character. I'm proud of the way the girls fought back after loosing the doubles point.”

The Sooners took four of the six singles matches in straight sets. OU was led by No.3 ranked senior Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) who defeated Arizona's 28th-ranked Dianne Hollands 6-3, 7-5. Oklahoma's next win came from freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) who upset 29th-ranked Maja Mlakar 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 singles. The Sooners then needed two more singles matches for the victory. Junior Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) and freshman Amanda Pratzel (St. Louis, Mo.) both posted straight set victories at No.4 and no.6 singles respectively, to defeat the Wildcats.

In doubles, freshman Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and junior Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) teamed up for a convincing 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles over Arizona's Kelly Duncan and Jessie Rochefort 8-3. No. 23 ranked Perianu and Saluri had a match point but were unable to defeat Arizona's No.19 ranked team of Hollands and Mlakar. Perianu and Saluri fell in a tie-breaker, 9-8, at No. 1 doubles.

The Sooners next face Oklahoma Baptist Friday, Feb. 6 at the Woodlake Raquet Club, in Oklahoma City, at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

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

No. 35 Oklahoma 4, No. 27 Arizona 3
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.

Singles:
1. Anda Perianu (#3) (OU) def. Dianne Hollands (#28) (UA) 6-3, 7-5
2. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Maja Mlakar (#29) (UA)  6-3, 6-4
3. Debbie Larocqu (UA) def. Gabby Baker (OU)   6-4, 7-6
4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Jessie Rochefort (UA)  6-2, 7-5
5. Kelly Perry (UA) def. Jessica Braver (OU)   2-6, 6-4, 6-2
6. Amanda Pratzel (OU) def. Kelly Duncan (UA)   7-5, 6-2

Doubles:
1. Hollands/Mlakar (#19) (UA) def. Perianu/Saluri (#23) (OU) 9-8
2. Larocque/Perry (UA) def. Lykina/Braver (OU) 8-1
3. Griffin/Baker (OU) def. Duncan/Rochefort (UA) 8-3

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