Women's Tennis Downs ORU, 7-0

March 1, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma women's tennis team (6-2) opened its outdoor season in victory, defeating Oral Roberts 7-0 at the Headington Family Tennis Center, Saturday.

"Overall I thought both teams struggled, but I am pleased with the win," OU head coach Mark Johnson said. "I thought we should have finished some matches earlier than we did, but the girls did well. We just have to get more consistent outdoors."

The Sooners, who now lead the all-time series with ORU 17-1, claimed the doubles point with wins in all three matches to hold the early advantage.

"I thought we got off to a slow start and the wind really played a factor," Johnson said. "But it is always our goal to win the doubles point and I am pleased that we stuck it out and did that."

Oklahoma was led off the courts by its 34th-ranked duo of Ana-Maria Constantinescu and Chelsea Orr, who swept Emily Arkell and Rafaela Souza, 8-0, to stay undefeated with seven wins.

"We just play really well together," Orr said. "We bring out the best in each other's games."

The No. 2 doubles pair of Christi Baxley and Tara Eckel rallied to an 8-6 win after falling behind early, 3-0.

In singles action, senior Rachael Cox was first to finish, dropping ORU's Corrine Langston 6-1, 6-0 at the No. 6 position.

Baxley continued the Sooners' streak, finishing second and recording a 6-0, 6-1 win over Oral Roberts' Tayler Pippen.

"I was really proud of how I played today," Baxley said. "I thought I played well despite the windy circumstances."

No. 92 Orr sealed the Sooners victory at the No. 3 spot, finishing third and giving Oklahoma its fourth point. The senior defeated Souza 6-2, 6-1.

At No.1 singles, Constantinescu, ranked 99th, defeated Arkell 6-3, 2-6. The win gave the undefeated Romanian her seventh singles win this year.

Freshman Maria Kalashnikova represented OU at the No. 2 spot. After falling 6-1 to Hayden Rush in the first set, Kalashnikova rallied to win the second set 6-3. Since the match had already been decided the duo played a third-set tie-breaker to decide the outcome. Kalashnikova took the third-set and the victory, 10-7.

The women's tennis team will return to action Saturday, March 8, at 12 p.m., when they host No. 38 Tulsa. The Sooner men's team will take the courts at the same time hosting Memphis.

Doubles