Women's Tennis Defeats Kansas, 6-1

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The No. 15 Oklahoma women's tennis team finished off a successful Kansas road trip Monday, defeating Kansas, 6-1, at the Robinson Tennis Courts in Lawrence, Kan. OU swept the doubles and took five of six singles matches for the victory. The Sooners improve to 14-3 overall and 3-2 in Big 12 play, while the Jayhawks fall to 5-11 and 3-3.

“We had improvement in the doubles today which was good to see,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “We have struggled a little in our doubles lately and it was important for us to get back on track. Overall, we got early leads at every position in both the singles and doubles which was really positive.”

The Sooners came out early in the singles, taking five of six singles in straight sets. OU's sixth-ranked senior Anda Perianu (Braila, Romania) kept her unbeaten Big 12 record in tact with a 7-5, 6-1 win over KU's Emily Haylock. Perianu moves to 13-1 on the season and is 5-0 in league play. Juniors Jessica Braver (Edmond, Okla.) and Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) and freshman Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) all posted straight set wins for OU. Sophomore Joi-lee Beachler (Oklahoma City) moved to 7-2 on the season with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over KU's Ashley Filberth. Freshman Irina Lykina (Kazan, Russia) retired her match against KU's Kristen Steinbock.

In doubles play, OU dominated at all three positions. At No. 1, OU's 13th-ranked Perianu and Saluri snapped a four match loosing streak by defeating KU's Haylock and Steinbock, 8-5. Braver and Lykina moved to 12-3 on the season at No. 2, with a 8-2 win over KU's Brittany Brown and Christine Skoda. At No. 3, OU's duo of Gabby Baker (Gold Coast, Australia) and Bethany Griffin (Amarillo, Texas) pushed their spring record to 10-3, defeating KU's Filberth Luiza Loureiro, 8-2.

The Sooners continue Big 12 action against Colorado on Sun., April 11, at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

No. 15 Oklahoma 6, Kansas 1
Monday, April 5, 2004
Robinson Tennis Courts, Lawrence, Kan.

Singles:
1. Anda Perianu (#6) (OU) def. Emily Haylock (KU) 7-5, 6-1
2. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Christine Skoda (KU)  6-0, 6-3
3. Kristen Steinbock (KU) def. Irina Lykina (OU)  6-3, 2-1, (ret.)
4. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Brittany Brown (KU)  7-6, 6-3
5. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Luiza Loureiro (KU)  6-4, 6-1
6. Joi-Lee Beacher (OU) def. Ashley Filberth (KU)  6-3, 7-5

Doubles:
1. Perianu/Saluri (#13)(OU) def. K. Steinbock/Haylock (KU) 8-5
2. Braver/Lykina (OU) def. Brown/Skoda (KU) 8-2
3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Filberth/Loureiro (KU) 8-2

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