Womens Tennis Defeats Iowa State, 6-1

NORMAN, Okla. The Oklahoma women's tennis team claimed its first Big 12 win of the season Sunday, with a 6-1 victory over Iowa State at the Seven Flag Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Sooners, currently ranked No. 40 in the ITA poll, swept the doubles to win the point and took five of six singles matches for the victory. OU improves their overall record to 8-4 and 1-1 in the Big 12 while Iowa State drops to 1-4 and 0-3 in Big 12 play.

“After winning our doubles point, it was great to come out strong in singles and win all of the first sets,” head coach Mark
Johnson said. “It was great to get our first Big 12 win under our belt.”

The Sooners got things started with a dominating doubles performance to earn the first point for OU. Senior Jessica Braver and freshman Chelsea Orr continued their stellar play with an 8-6 win over Iowa State's Danielle Uscinski and Chrissy Derouin at the No. 2 spot. It marked the second straight victory for the duo as they remain undefeated on the season.

Winning the doubles point for the Sooners was the No. 1 pair of sophomore Irina Lykina and senior Heather Saluri who earned a 9-7 victory over ISU's Jill Palen and Elizabeth Chermel. At the No. 3 slot freshman Christi Baxley and senior Bethany Griffin won by default over the Cyclones' Caitlin Loprinzi and Charlotte Ljungkrantz.

The Sooners came out firing in singles, winning the first set in every match and claiming five of six positions in straight sets. At the No. 4 slot, Braver clinched the match for the Sooners and moved to 8-3 on the season with a 6-2, 7-5, defeat over ISU's Derouin. Saluri posted a straight-set win over Iowa State's Uscinski, 7-5, 6-1, while teammate Griffin also claimed a victory with a 6-4, 6-4, win over Chermel.

A pair of Sooner freshmen also earned points for the Sooners at the No. 5 and 6 slots. Christy Greenly claimed her sixth victory of the season with a 6-1, 6-3, win over Ljungkrantz at the No. 5 position. Christi Baxley earned a victory over Loprinzi by default.

OU will host its home-opener Saturday, March 12 against Kansas State at 12 p.m. at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. Admission to all matches at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center is free.

No. 40 Oklahoma 6, Iowa State 1
Sunday, March 5, 2005
Seven Flag Center - Des Moines, Iowa

Singles
1. Jill Palen (ISU) def. Irina Lykina (OU)   5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Danielle Uscinski (ISU)  7-5, 6-1
3. Bethany Griffin (OU) def. Elizabeth Chermel (ISU)  6-4, 6-4
4. Jessica Braver (OU) def. Chrissy Derouin (ISU)  6-2, 7-5
5. Christy Greenly (OU) def. Charlotte Ljungkrantz (ISU) 6-1, 6-3
6. Christi Baxley (OU) def. Caitlin Loprinzi (ISU)  Default

Doubles
1. Saluri/Lykina (OU) def. Palen/Chermel (ISU) 9-7
2. Braver/Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Uscinski/Derouin (ISU) 8-6
3. Baxley/Griffin (OU) def. Loprinzi/Ljungkrantz (ISU) Default

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