Two Sooners Advance In ITA Regionals

NORMAN, Okla. Two Oklahoma women's tennis players battled through two tough rounds of qualifying singles matches Wednesday in the 2004 Wilson/ITA Central Regional Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla., and have advanced to the main draw competition. All four Sooners in action today made it to the final round of qualifying.

Advancing for the Sooners were seniors Jessica Braver and Bethany Griffin who will join senior Heather Saluri and sophomores Gabby Baker and Irina Lykina in the singles competition Thursday at 8 a.m.

Braver dominated her first round opponent Genevieve Spink of Wichita State, 6-0, 6-1 and went on to defeat Tiffany Coll of Boise State, 6-4, 6-3, to qualify for the main draw singles. Griffin dropped her first set against Martina Sedivec of Colorado, 2-6, but bounced back to win 6-1, 10-4. In the second qualifying round, Griffin defeated Erika Josbena of Missouri, 6-3, 6-2, to move on to main draw action.

Also taking the court for the Sooners were freshmen Christy Greenly and Christi Baxley. Greenly won her first round and defeated Colorado's Jenny Hanson, 7-6, 6-4, but fell in the final round of qualifying to No. 1-seeded Ewelina Skaza of Nebraska, 7-6, 6-2. Fourth-seeded Baxley drilled her first opponent Ashley Filberth of Kansas, 6-1, 6-1, to move on to the final round. In the final qualifying round, Baxley was defeated by Boise State's Carolina Pongratz, 6-0, 6-1.

The five Sooners who will be competing in main draw singles action Thursday will also compete in doubles action which also begins Thursday. Baxley will join Griffin as one of three doubles teams to compete.

Live scoring for the tournament will be available at www.TulsaHurricane.com

2004 ITA Central Regional Championships
Michael D. Case Tennis Center
Tulsa, Okla.

First round qualifying
Jessica Braver (OU) def. Genevieve Spink (Wichita St.) 6-0, 6-1
(4) Christi Baxley (OU) def. Ashley Filberth (KU) 6-1, 6-1
Christy Greenly (OU) def. Jenny Hanson (CO) 7-6, 6-4
Bethany Griffin (OU) def. Martina Sedivec (CO) 2-6, 6-1, 10-4

Second round qualifying
Jessica Braver (OU) def. Tiffany Coll (BSU) 6-4, 6-3
Bethany Griffin (OU) def. Erika Josbena (MU) 6-3, 6-2
(1) Ewelina Skaza (Nebraska) def. Christy Greenly (OU) 7-6, 6-2
Carolina Pongratz (BSU) def. (4) Christi Baxley (OU) 6-0, 6-1

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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