Sooners Face Two Ranked Conference Opponents

March 14, 2013

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma women's tennis team heads to Texas for two road matches this weekend. OU faces No. 39 University of Texas Friday, March 15, at 2 p.m., in Austin and No 21. Texas Tech Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m. in Lubbock.

"We are looking forward to another very tough challenge on the road this weekend," OU head coach David Mullins continued. "There is no doubt we will need to be at our best all weekend long in order to be competitive and give ourselves the best chance to get to 4 points."

Oklahoma (8-3, 2-0) jumped 12 spots in the latest ITA Rankings to No. 28 after a 5-2 victory against Kansas March 8 and a 4-3 win over No. 36 Kansas State March 10.

In doubles, Whitney Ritchie and Hermon Brhane defeated Kansas' Dylan Windom and Maria Jose Cardona, 8-5, and upset Kansas State's 31^st-ranked duo, Petra Niedermayerova and Karla Bonacic, to improve to No. 14 in the ITA Rankings. The pair is 7-2 at the No. 1 doubles position, including a 3-1 record against ranked opponents.

"Texas have played a very difficult schedule this year and are much better than its current ranking indicates," Mullins said. "They are extremely talented and are capable of playing some really great tennis."

Texas (3-7) is on a four-game losing streak including a shutout loss to No. 7 USC on March 12. Friday will mark the beginning of conference play for Texas.

Friday's match is set for a 2 p.m. CT live telecast on Longhorn Network.

"Texas Tech is having another great spring and it is never easy to play in some tricky conditions in Lubbock," Mullins added.

Texas Tech (9-4) suffered a 5-2 loss to No. 1 North Carolina March 13 in a neutral-site dual in San Diego, Calif.

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