Women's Tennis Sweeps ISU

April 5, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma women's tennis team (9-7, 2-3) shared the courts with the men's team, Friday, April 4, as they knocked off the Iowa State cyclones (4-9, 0-6), 7-0.

"We played a good match," OU head coach Mark Johnson said. "It is nice to pick up another Big 12 win."

The Sooners took the lead early, sweeping doubles and earning a 1-0 lead.

The No. 1 duo of Chelsea Orr and Ana-Maria Constantinescu gave OU its first win, defeating the Iowa State pair of Erin Karonis and Chrissy Derouin 8-2. The pair leads the Sooners with an 11-3 season record.

After falling behind early, Oklahoma's Christy Baxley and Tara Eckel clinched the doubles point for OU taking an 8-6 win over Kara Hickey and Caitlin Loprinzi at the No. 2 position.

"I was pleased with our doubles performance," Johnson said. "It is always good to get the doubles point."

Constantinescu, ranked 89th in the latest ITA polls, picked up Oklahoma's first win in singles. The Romania native defeated ISU's Erin Karonis 6-2, 6-4, giving the Sooners a 2-0 lead.

Baxley pushed OU to a 3-0 lead, knocking off Cyclone Reka Kelemen 6-4, 6-2.

"Iowa State came out with a lot of energy and Kelemen played well," Baxley said. "But I came out ready to play and I'm pleased with my performance."

Freshman Maria Kalashnikova clinched the match for the Sooners, defeating Caitlin Loprinzi 7-6, 6-2.

"Maria played a great match," Johnson said. "She got down at one point, but never quit fighting. I'm pleased with her performance."

Sooners Orr, Eckel and Elena Antakova were the last on the courts, each taking their match to three sets.

Orr represented OU at the No. 2 spot where she dropped the first set 6-4. The senior pulled together for the final two sets claiming a 6-2, 6-2 win.

The women return to action Sunday, April 6 when they host Nebraska at 10 a.m.
Nebraska comes to Norman after losing two straight last weekend in Texas. The Huskers fell 7-0 to No. 32 Texas A&M and 6-1 to No. 17 Texas. The two losses dropped NU to 13-3 on the season and 2-3 in conference play.

The teams last met on, April 7, 2007, with Nebraska taking a 4-3 win. However, OU owns a 20-9 series record.

"Nebraska always has a strong team and that hasn't changed this year," Johnson said. "It will be a good match. We will have to come out and play hard."

All fans in attendance Sunday will receive free donuts and OU visors.

For live scoring updates and results from the Headington Family Tennis Center, check SoonerSports.com.

Oklahoma 7, Iowa State 0

Doubles
1. Constantinescu / Orr (OU) def. Karonis / Derouin (ISU), 8-2
2. Baxley / Eckel (OU) def. Hickey / Loprinzi (ISU), 8-6
3. Antakova / Kalashnikova (OU) def. Palen / Wischer (ISU), 8-5
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles
1. Ana-Maria Constantinescu (OU) def. Erin Karonis (ISU), 6-2, 6-4
2. Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Kara Hickey (ISU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
3. Maria Kalashnikova (OU) Caitlin Loprinzi (ISU), 7-, 6-2
4. Elena Antakova (OU) def. Alyssa Palen (ISU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
5. Christi Baxley (OU) def. Reka Kelemen (ISU), 6-4, 6-2
6. Tara Eckel (OU) def. Liza Wischer (ISU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 5, 3, 2, 4, 6

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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