Sooners Sweep First Match of Season

Norman Okla.- The women's tennis team started off their spring season strong Monday Feb. 5 at Willow Creek in Oklahoma City. The Sooners defeated Oklahoma Baptist University in two separate matches.

“We decided to play two matches to give the girls more match play,” said OU head coach Mark Johnson.

In the first match the teams competed in singles only and the Sooners defeated OBU 6-0. The Sooners swept past them in straight sets in all six spots.

Irina Lykina led the Sooners at No. 1 singles defeating Kaitlin Pascucci 6-0, 6-0. The Sooners newest team members, Elena Antakova and Evgenia Ostryakova, showed strong performances in the No. 3 and 4 spots. Antakova, who played No. 3, defeated Brooke Mowery 6-0, 6-1, while Ostryakova defeated Paige Davis 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 4 spot.

Sooners Chelsea Orr, Rachael Cox and Brittany Baldy also looked strong defeating their opponents in straight sets.

In the second match the teams competed in singles and doubles and the Sooners overpowered OBU 7-0.

In doubles competition the Sooners were led by Cox and Ostryakova at No. 1 doubles. They defeated Haley Howard and Pascucci 8-3.

Other duos competing in doubles were junior Chelsea Orr and newcomer Antakova at No. 2. At the No. 3 Baldy matched up with junior Christi Baxley.

In the second match the Sooners were led at No. 1 singles by Monica Purice who beat Pascucci 6-2, 6-0.

Baxley also looked strong in the season debut when she defeated Camber Robinett 6-0, 6-2.

“I thought the girls did great today,” said Johnson. “They were very anxious to get the season started and I thought they did what needed to be done. We are excited to be out there competing again.”

The Sooners were unfortunately missing junior Gabby Baker and senior Anne Carter, who were both left home due to injury. Baker was receiving treatment for her knee and Carter is still recovering from a foot injury.

The Sooners will hit the road for three consecutive matches, first at Arkansas Friday Feb. 9, then to Tulsa on Feb. 13 and finally to Alabama Feb. 24. The Sooners will be back in Norman March 1 for their first home match.

Match Results
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma Baptist- Feb. 5

Match 1
Singles
1. Irina Lykina (OU) def. Kaitlin Pascucci (OBU), 6-0, 6-0
2. Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Camber Robinett (OBU), 6-0, 6-2
3. Elena Antakova (OU) def. Brooke Mowery (OBU), 6-0, 6-1
4. Evgenia Ostryakova (OU) def. Paige Davis (OBU), 6-1, 6-0
5. Rachael Cox (OU) def. Haley Howard (OBU), 6-1, 6-1
6. Britany Baldy (OU) def. Molly Cariker (OBU), 6-1, 6-0

Match 2
Singles
1. Monica Purice (OU) def. Kaitlin Pascucci (OBU), 6-2, 6-0
2. Christi Baxley (OU) def. Camber Robinett (OBU), 6-1, 6-0
3. Elena Antakova (OU) def. Paige Davis (OBU), 6-1, 6-2
4. Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Brooke Mowery (OBU), 6-0, 6-0
5. Rachael Cox (OU) def. Molly Cariker (OBU), 6-0, 6-0
6. Evgenia Ostryakova (OU) def. Haley Howard (OBU), 6-1, 6-0

Doubles
1. Cox/Ostryakova (OU) def. Howard/Pascucci (OBU), 8-3
2. Orr/Antakova (OU) def. Davis/Cariker (OBU), 8-0
3. Baldy/Baxley (OU) def. Mowery/Robinett (OBU), 8-0

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