This Week In Sooner Tennis

In its first home match of the season, the 34th-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team (8-1) takes on No. 22 BYU (10-3) on Tuesday, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman, at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Sooners look to claim a fourth straight win over a ranked opponent.

Last Time Against BYU
Regional opponents Oklahoma and BYU last met in the final of the inaugural ITA National Indoor Team playoff last fall. The Sooners fell to the Cougars, 4-2, in a closely contested dual.

Sooners Defeat Missouri, 5-2
Oklahoma opened up Big 12 play stongly last weekend with a 5-2 win over Missouri at the Green Tennis Center in Columbia, Mo. The Sooners swept the doubles for the third consecutive dual and claimed four singles wins for the victory. Freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) was the match winner for the Sooners with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (9) victory over MU's Hana Kraftova. Lykina fought off a match point to earn the winning sinlges point for the Sooners. Senior Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania), junior Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.), and freshman Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) all posted singles victories against the Tigers.

Perianu Continues to Defend No. 4 Ranking
Senior standout Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) has been busy defending her No. 4 national ranking. Perianu is now 6-1 on the season in singles play including wins over three nationally-ranked players.

Oklahoma's Undefeated Doubles Team
OU's undefeated doubles pair of Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) moved to 6-0 on the season at the No. 3 spot after last weekend's play. Baker and Griffin defeated MU's Hana Kraftova and Mary Barry, 8-5.

Mark Johnson In 16th Year At Oklahoma
In his 16th season as head coach at Oklahoma, Mark Johnson owns a career record of 240-119 (.668). He has also coached four teams, three singles competitors and four doubles pairs to the NCAA Championships. Johnson has won five coach of the year honors, including Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1991, 1994 and 1995, Big 12 Tri-Coach of the Year in 1999 and most recently the ITA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2003.

OU To Host Big 12 Championships
Oklahoma will host the 2004 Men's and Women's Big 12 Tennis Championships at the Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. Tournament action begins Fri., April 30, and runs through Sun., May 2. Ticket prices are as follows: All session four day pass, $15, single session adult pass, $5, and single session youth/student pass, $2. Tickets may be purchased by calling the OU Athletics ticket office at (405) 325-2424 or 800-456-4668.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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