No. 31 Sooners Improve to 9-0 at Home

April 1, 2010

NORMAN, Okla.— The No. 31 Oklahoma women's tennis team improved to 9-0 at home this season after defeating Marquette, 5-2, Thursday at the Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion.

Oklahoma (13-2, 3-1 Big 12) remains undefeated at home, despite losing its first doubles point at home this season. The Sooners overcame the early deficit in singles after winning five of the six matches in straight-sets.

“We had a slow start in doubles,” OU head coach David Mullins said. “Marquette did a really good job at taking us out of our game plan. I'm not sure if that was on purpose or if it was just how they played.

In doubles, Tara Eckel and Marie-Pier Huet remain undefeated this season, winning their fifth-straight doubles match as a pair this season. The OU duo defeated Marquette's Olga Fischer and Maggie Wilson, 8-4, at the No. 2 position.

Both remaining doubles matches were tied following Eckel and Huet's win, in one of OU's closest doubles points of the season. The Sooners narrowly missed their 12th doubles point victory of the season.

“They made us uncomfortable,” Mullins said. “Our expectations were a little higher, we expected to get through doubles and the entire match a little easier than we did.”

Katelyn Connelly and Kristina Radan were tied with MU's Gillian Rush and Paola Calderon at the No. 3 spot, 8-8, forcing the tiebreaker. Connelly and Radan tied Rush and Calderon in the tiebreaker game, 5-5, but the MU duo eventually won the match, 9-8 (5).

No. 29 Ana-Maria Constantinescu and Teona Tsertsvadze were also tied, 7-7, with MU's Rachael Hush and Christina Ruiz at the No. 1 position. Marquette took the next two games to win, 9-7, clinching the doubles point win for the Golden Eagles.

The Sooners showed poise in singles, winning the first set at all six positions. OU claimed five of the six singles matches all in straight-sets.

“We regrouped in singles,” Mullins said. “To win five out of the six in straight-sets is not easy to do so it showed some consistency. Overall I'm happy.”

Tsertsvadze quickly won OU's first dual point after a dominating performance at the No. 3 singles position, tying the dual score at 1-1. Tsertsvadze beat Marquette's Kelly Barry in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.

Constantinescu claimed OU's next point after crushing MU's Calderon at the No. 1 position, 6-2, 6-1. With Constantinescu's win, OU led the dual 2-1.

Maria Kalashnikova brought OU's lead to 3-1, defeating Marquette's Christina Ruiz at the No. 4 spot, 6-3, 6-2. Thursday was Kalashnikova's first appearance at the No. 4 position this season.

Radan clinched the win for OU for the second-straight match and for the fourth time this season. Radan escaped a close first set and went on to defeat Rachael Hush at the No. 5 spot, 7-5, 6-3. Radan's win brought the dual score to 4-1 and guaranteed OU's victory.

Huet added another point to OU's total, defeating Olga Fischer at the No. 2 position, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to bring the dual score to 5-1.

Marquette claimed the final singles point behind Gillian Hush at the No. 6 position. Hush defeated OU's Eckel after losing the first set, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0(4).

The Sooners will get a short break before hosting arch-rival No. 36 Texas on Saturday, April 3 at 11 a.m., at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

“Today was part of the preparation for Texas,” Mullins said. “We are definitely feeling a little sharper after today. We've done the work, right now it's about feeling good and being in the right mindset for Saturday. They are going to be tough.”

OU will be hosting “Family & Friends Day” during the match. All fans in attendance will receive free food, refreshments and a chance to win a brand new tennis racquet. Additionally the first 75 fans will receive an OU tennis t-shirt. Admission is free for all.

No. 31 Oklahoma 5, Marquette 2
Doubles
1. Hush, R./Ruiz (MU) def. No. 29 Constantinescu/Tsertsvadze (OU), 9-7
2. Eckel/Huet (OU) def. Fischer/Wilson (MU), 8-4
3. Hush, G./Calderon (MU) def. Connelly/Radan (OU), 9-8(5)
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles
1. No. 93 Ana-Maria Constantinescu (OU) def. Paola Calderon (MU), 6-2, 6-1
2. Marie-Pier Huet (OU) def. Olga Fischer (MU) 7-6(5), 6-2
3. Teona Tsertsvadze (OU) def. Kelly Barry (MU), 6-0, 6-2
4. Maria Kalashnikova (OU) def. Christina Ruiz (MU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Kristina Radan (OU) def. Rachael Hush (MU), 7-5, 6-3
6. Gillian Hush (MU) def. Tara Eckel (OU) 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (4)
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 5*, 2, 6

Next Event

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics