Veterans Finish 7-1 on Friday at the Rice Classic

Sept. 25, 2009

HOUSTON—Four members of the University of Oklahoma women's tennis team collected a combined seven wins on Friday to advance on at the Rice Classic.

Junior Tara Eckel and sophomore Kristina Radan will play in the Flight 3 doubles final on Saturday and will also join junior Maria Kalashnikova and sophomore Marie-Pier Huet in the singles semifinals.

“I am really proud of the way the girls played today,” OU assistant coach Brook Connelly said. “We started off a little slow in doubles this morning, but picked it up right away and kept it going throughout the day.”

In the Flight 3 doubles first round Eckel and Radan defeated Sophie Quist and Casey Kennedy of SMU, 8-4, before topping Kirsten Gambrell and Sandra Zmak of Depaul in the semifinals, 8-2.

Huet and Kalashnikova claimed OU's only loss on Friday, falling to Selma Salkovic and Anna Redesci of Depaul in the Flilght 1 doubles first round, 8-5. The Sooner duo recovered in the consolation semifinals, defeating Nikola Matavicova and Katherina Micochova of UT-Arlington, 8-2.

In singles, Huet won a tough battle in Flight 2 singles against Gia McKnight of Depaul after winning the seven point tiebreak in both sets,7-6 (2), 7-6 (1).

Kalashnikova defeated Sarah Adams of Texas-San Antonio in Flight 3 singles, 6-2, 6-1.

Radan topped Vivan Carillo, also of Texas-San Antonio, in Flight 5 singles, 6-2, 6-0.

Eckel defeated SMU's Casey Kennedy in Flight 7 singles, 6-4, 6-4.

“It is exciting to see the progress they have made in practice show in a tournament setting,” Connelly said. “The matches will be tougher tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to seeing them compete the rest of the weekend.”

For updated results from day two of the Rice Classic, check back to SoonerSports.com.

Rice Classic: Day One Results
Flight 2 singles:
Marie-Pier Huet (OU) def. Gia Mcnight (DePaul), 7-6(2), 7-6(1)

Flight 3 singles:
Maria Kalashnikova (OU) def. Sarah Adams (UTSA), 6-2,6-1

Flight 5 singles:
Kristina Radan (OU) def. Vivian Carillo (UTSA), 6-2,6-0

Flight 7 singles:
Tara Eckel (OU) def. Casey Kennedy (SMU), 6-4,6-4

Flight 1 doubles:
1st round: Salkovic/Redesci (Depaul) def. Huet/Kalashnikova (OU), 8-5
Consolation: Huet/Kalashnikova (OU) def. Matavicova/Micochova (UTA), 8-2

Flight 3 doubles:
1st round: Radan/Eckel def. Quist/Kennedy (SMU), 8-4
Semifinals: Radan/Eckel def. Gambrell/Zmak (Depaul), 8-2

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Veterans Finish 7-1 on Friday at the Rice Classic

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