Women's Tennis Opens Spring Season Friday

Sooners Open Spring Season
The No. 26 Oklahoma women's tennis team will open its spring season Friday, Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. Oklahoma plays host to Oklahoma Baptist at the Woodlake Racquet Club in Oklahoma City. The Sooners will be participating in a double header with a second match against East Central at 4 p.m.

Oklahoma Completes Fall Campaign
OU returns to action after a short fall stint of individual competitive play where the Sooners produced a total individual record of 27-14 in singles and 14-10 in doubles. Leading the way for OU during the fall campaign was sophomore Gabby Baker with a 5-2 record in singles and 3-1 in doubles. The Sooners only tournaments included the Las Vegas Invitational and the ITA Regional Championships.

Sooner Rankings
The Sooners start off the season ranked No. 26 in the ITA rankings which is step up from last year's preseason ranking. OU started off the 2004 spring campaign ranked No. 36 before moving up. Only two Big 12 teams are ahead of Oklahoma Texas at No. 11 and Texas A&M at No. 16. Individually, Baker is the lone Sooner in the rankings and is rated No. 86 in singles.

What To Expect In 2005
Oklahoma is coming off its best season in 10 years after finishing the 2003-04 season with an impressive record of 22-5 and placing third in the Big 12 while earning a second straight berth to the 2004 NCAA Team Championships. While the Sooners return seven from last year's squad, they also graduated a key player. OU will begin its quest to replace former Sooner standout Anda Perianu, the best women's tennis player to ever grace the courts at Oklahoma.

The Sooners return three seniors and sophomores Baker and Irina Lykina who played high in the lineup for the Sooners as true freshmen last year. OU retains three conference position champions in senior Bethany Griffin and Baker, the duo was the Big 12 No. 3 doubles position champions while Baker was also named the Big 12 No. 3 singles position champion.

“We've got high goals again this year,” Head coach Mark Johnson said. “With that many returnees and so many players who have done well, we should have a good season. If everyone stays healthy, we should have a good chance of competing for the Big 12 Championship and hopefully, going to the NCAA Tournament again.”

OU Newcomers
OU added five freshmen to the roster in the fall who will be expected to step in and compete for a lineup spot. Topping that group are Christi Baxley (New Braunfels, Texas), Rachael Cox (Acworth, Ga.), Christy Greenly (Yukon, Okla.) and Chelsea Orr (Tulsa, Okla.).

Mark Johnson In 17th Year At Oklahoma
In his 17th year as head coach at OU, Johnson carries a career record of 262-24 (.679) and has coached 33 conference champions, four NCAA singles qualifiers and as well as five pairs of NCAA doubles qualifiers. In addition, the five-time coach of the year has also coached eight consecutive teams to ITA Academic All-America honors.

Looking Ahead
The Sooners will travel to Utah to compete against Utah State Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. (CST) in Logan, Utah and continue their play Feb. 12 where OU will compete against Brigham Young in a dual slated for 1 p.m. (CST) in Provo, Utah.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Women's Tennis Opens Spring Season Friday

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