Women's Tennis Edges Baylor, 4-3

WACO, Texas -- The No. 18 Oklahoma women's tennis team claimed its fifth Big 12 win of the season Friday evening, defeating No. 43 Baylor, 4-3, in a thrilling contest at the Baylor Tennis Center in Waco, Texas. The Sooners took the doubles point and three of six singles matches for the victory. The Sooners improve to 16-3 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play, while the Bears fall to 10-10 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play.

“It was an incredibly hard fought win and I am very proud of the team,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “This match is what it is all about. It was tough, it was exciting and it came down to the wire with Irina (Lykina) pulling out an incredible third set tie-break victory to clinch the match. ”

In front of a strong Baylor crowd, the doubles point was crucial to the Sooners. OU's 29th-ranked team of Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) fought off a match point and a 6-3 deficit to pull out a 9-7 victory over Baylor's Carolin Walter and Daria Potapova. Perianu and Saluri's win secured the doubles point for the Sooners, after OU's duo of Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) dominated BU's team of Klara Zrustova and Daniela Covello at No. 3 doubles.

In the singles, freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) was the match winner for the Sooners. With the match tied at 3-3, Lykina fought off leg cramps and a rowdy crowd to win 7-0, in the third set tie-break, clinching the dual for the Sooners.

“It felt awesome to win it for my team,” said Lykina. I kept thinking that there is no way that I can loose this match, I couldn't stand to let my team mates down.”

Also in singles for OU was fifth-ranked Perianu, who remained undefeated in Big 12 play with a 7-6, 6-4 victory at No. 1 over Baylor's 41st-ranked Walter. Perianu's win pushes her spring record to 15-1 and 7-0 in the Big 12 at No. 1 singles, including nine wins over ranked opponents. At No. 3 singles, OU' s Baker posted a straight set victory over BU's Potapova, 7-5, 6-3.

The Sooners now head to Lubbock, Texas to continue Big 12 action against Texas Tech on Sun., April 18.

No. 18 Oklahoma , No. 43 Baylor
Friday, April 16, 2004
Baylor Tennis Center, Waco, Texas

Singles:
1. Anda Perianu (#5) (OU) def. Carolin Walker (#41) (BU) 7-6 (3), 6-4
2. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Daniela Covello (BU)   6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (0)
3. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Daria Potapova (BU) 7-5, 6-3
4. Klara Zrustova (BU) def. Heather Saluri (OU)   6-3, 6-3
5. Iva Mihaylova (BU) def. Jessica Braver (OU)   6-0, 6-3
6. Zuzana Krchnakova (BU) def. Joi-lee Beachler (OU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-1

Doubles:
1. Perianu/Saluri (#29) (OU) def. Walter/Potapova  9-7
2. Zrustiva/Covello (BU) def. Braver/Lykina (OU)  8-6
3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Krchnakova/Mijic   8-3

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