Women's Tennis Defeats Colorado, 5-2

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 18 Oklahoma women's tennis team claimed its fourth Big 12 win of the season Sunday, defeating No. 68 Colorado, 5-2, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman. OU won the doubles point and took four of six singles matches for the victory.

The Sooners improve to 15-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, while the Buffaloes fall to 9-8 overall and 5-4 in Big 12 play.

“I thought the key to today was Jessica (Braver) and Irina (Lykina) winning a big game at 4-4 in their doubles match,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “That helped turn the doubles around. As for the singles, we came out strong early and put away some important matches that really helped finish it off.”

The doubles proved to be important yet again for the Sooners as they edged out the Buffaloes. OU fell behind early when 28th-ranked Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) were upset by CU's Morgan Sall and Jessica Vanderdys, 8-3. The Sooners then had to rely on No. 2 and No. 3 positions to pull out the doubles point.

At No. 2, junior Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.) and freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) moved to 12-3 on the season with a tough 8-5 victory over CU's Kendra Strandemo and Lynzee Kever. With the doubles tied at 1-1, OU's team of freshman Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and junior Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) stepped up and defeated CU's Martina Sedevic and Jenny Hanson, 8-5, to claim the doubles point.

In singles, sixth-ranked Perianu remained undefeated in Big 12 play with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Colorado's Kever. Perianu's win pushes her spring record to 14-1 and 6-0 in the Big 12 at No. 1 singles. OU' s Baker, and Saluri both posted straight set victories for the Sooners, while Braver defeated CU's Sall in a third set super tie-break, 11-9.

The Sooners head to Texas to continue Big 12 action against Baylor on Fri., April 16, and Texas Tech on Sun., April 8.

No. 18 Oklahoma 5, Colorado 2
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Headington Family Tennis Center, Norman

Singles:
1. Anda Perianu (#5) (OU) def. Lynzee Kever (CU)       6-1, 6-2
2. Jessica Vanderdys (CU) def. Irina Lykina (OU)          6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (7)
3. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Kendra Strandemo (CU)      6-1, 6-3
4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Martina Sedevic (CU)         6-2, 6-2
5. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Morgan Sall (CU)               6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (9)
6. Kristy Rondono (CU) def. Joi-lee Beachler (OU)       6-4, 6-2

Doubles:
1. Sall/Vanderdys (CU) def. Perianu/Saluri (#29)(OU) 8-3
2. Braver/Lykina (OU) def. Strandemo/Kever (CU) 8-5
3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Sedevic/Jenny Hanson (CU) 8-5

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