Women's Tennis Drops Dual To KU, 4-3

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma women's tennis team dropped a tough match to Kansas, 4-3, Friday at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center. The Sooners claimed the doubles point and took two singles matches. OU drops its overall record to 9-5 and 2-2 in the Big 12 while the Jayhawks improve to 3-9 and 2-2 in the conference.

"This was a really dissappointing loss for us," Head coach Mark Johnson said. "Kansas played well and won the close points and deserved the win. We need to win the close sets to win matches and we just didn't get that done today."

The Sooners were solid in doubles sweeping all three positions. Freshman Christi Baxley and senior Bethany Griffin earned their third victory this spring after defeating KU's Elizaveta Avdeeva and Luiza Louriero, 8-5 at the No. 3 spot. Senior Heather Saluri and freshman Chelsea Orr remain undefeated on the season after beating the duo of Brittany Brown and Lauren Hommel, 8-4. Finishing off the Sooner sweep were sophomore Irina Lykina and senior Jessica Braver winning No. 2 doubles with an 8-4 victory over KU's Christine Skoda and Ashley Filberth.

In singles action, Baxley continued her stellar play and earned her 11th victory of the season after defeating Filberth at the No. 5 slot in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Braver claimed her ninth victory of the season with a 7-5, 6-1, defeat over KU's Hommel.

Next up for the Sooners is a two-match stretch against Big 12 foes Texas A&M and Texas. OU heads to College Station, Texas, for a dual against the Aggies Thursday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Next, the Sooners will challenge Big 12 leader Texas Saturday, March 26 at 10 a.m. in Austin, Texas.

Kansas 4, Oklahoma 3
Friday, March 18, 2005
OU Headington Family Tennis Center
Norman, Okla.

Singles:
1. Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU) def. Heather Saluri (OU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Christine Skoda (KU) def. Irina Lykina(OU) 6-2, 7-6
3. Brittany Brown (KU) def. Bethany Griffin (OU) 7-6, 6-2
4. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Lauren Hommel (KU) 7-5, 6-1
5. Christi Baxley (OU) def. Ashley Filberth (KU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Stephanie Smith (KU) def. Chelsea Orr (OU) 7-5, 4-6,7-5

Order of finish: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 6

Doubles:
1. Saluri/Orr (OU) def. Brown/Hommel (KU) 8-4
2. Lykina/Braver (OU) def. Skoda/Filberth (KU) 8-4
3. Baxley/Griffin (OU) def. Avdeeva/Luiza Louriero (KU) 8-5

Order of finsh: 3, 1, 2

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