Women's Tennis Downs Texas Tech, 7-0

LUBBOCK, Texas -- The No. 18 Oklahoma women's tennis team claimed its sixth Big 12 win of the season and moved into third place in the conference standings Sunday, defeating Texas Tech, 7-0, at the McLeod Tennis Center in Lubbock, Texas. The Sooners improved to 17-3 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play, while the Raiders fell to 11-8 overall and 4-6 in Big 12 play.

“It was a solid win for us, especially in the tough conditions and because Tech is a tough team,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “This was an important win for us not only for momentum going into next week's matches but for Big 12 standings. This put us one step closer to a top four seed at the Big 12 tournament in two weeks.”

In windy conditions, the Sooners got off to a good start in the doubles, dominating at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions to take the doubles point.

For the second match in a row it was OU's 29th-ranked team of Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) that sealed the point for Oklahoma, defeating TTU's Irina Tereschenko and Katja Kovacic, 8-2. Perianu and Saluri's win came after OU's duo of Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) defeated TTU's team of Hristyana Gocheva and Lakann Wagley, 8-4, at No. 3 doubles.

In singles play, the Sooners were led by fifth-ranked Perianu who defeated Texas Tech's Tereschenko in a tough two-setter, 7-5, 6-4. Perianu's win pushes her spring record to 16-1 and remains undefeated in Big 12 play with a record of 8-0 at No. 1 singles. Saluri posted OU's next point with a straight set win over TTU's Lakann Wagley, 6-3, 6-3 at No. 4 singles.

Freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) was next to win at No. 2 singles with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over TTU's Kendall Brooks. With the match decided Baker, Braver and Joi-lee Bechler (Oklahoma City) finished off the sweep, all posting victories.

The Sooners now head back to Norman to host Bedlam rival Oklahoma State on Thurs., April 22, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center. Play begins at 2 p.m. and admission is free.

No. 18 Oklahoma 7, Texas Tech 0
Sunday, April 18, 2004
McLeod Tennis Center, Lubbock, Texas

Singles
1. Anda Perianu (#5) (OU) def. Irina Tereschenko (TTU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Kendall Brooks (TTU)  7-5, 6-2
3. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Tara Browning (TTU) 6-1, 7-6 (5)
4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Lakann Wagley (TTU)   6-3, 6-3
5. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Katja Kovacic (TTU)   7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-0 (7)
6. Joi-lee Beachler (OU) def. Sarize Coetzee (TTU)  7-5, 6-4

Doubles
1. Perianu/Saluri (#29) (OU) def. Tereschenko/Kovacic (TTU) 8-2
2. Brooks/Browning (TTU) def. Braver/Lykina (OU)  8-3
3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Gocheva/Wagley (TTU)  8-4

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