Perianu Concludes Successful Career at NCAA Championships

ATHENS, Ga. -- University of Oklahoma women's tennis senior Anda Perianu (Braila, Perianu) lost a heartbreaking three set match Wednesday in the round of 16 in the NCAA Women's Singles Championship at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.

The second-seeded Sooner was upset by Clemson's sixth-ranked Julie Coin. Later in the day, Perianu and partner Heather Saluri (Des Moines, Iowa) fell in the round of 16 in doubles play to Indiana's Linda Tran and Sarah Batty, also in a third set match.

“It was a really tough day,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “ It was hard to go through the singles and the doubles, knowing we were so close and not quite finishing it off. However, the girls fought their hearts out and overall, should be proud of their performances this season. It was a great season, with a great team, it is something to look back on and be very proud of.”

In singles, Perianu struggled early, dropping the first set 6-4. Perianu came back in the second set taking it 6-4. The third set was extremely tight, eventually going Coin's way in a tie-break, 7-6 to take the match.

Perianu's loss marks the end of an accolade-filled career at OU. Perianu ended the season as the 2004 Big 12 Player of the Year, for the second straight season, the Big 12 No. 1 Singles Position Champion, also for the second consecutive season, the Central Region Senior Player of the Year and ended with a career record percentage .834 (86-17), the highest career record in OU women's tennis history.

In doubles action, Perianu and Saluri started off slow dropping the first set 6-3. The 17th-ranked OU duo fought back in the second taking it in a tie break, 7-6. The third set proved to be a battle with

2004 NCAA Individual Championships Results:

Singles (Round of 16):
(9-16) Julie Coin (CU) def. (2) Anda Perianu (OU), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6

Doubles (Round of 16):
Tran/Batty (CU) def. Perianu/Saluri (OU), 6-3, 6-7, 7-5