Sooners down Cougars 5-2 in Oklahoma

NORMAN -- In an effort to keep its four match winning streak alive, the No. 21 BYU women's tennis team suffered its fourth loss of the season to a tough Oklahoma Sooner team (No. 32) on the road. The loss puts the Cougars at 11-4 on the season.

The last time the Cougars faced the Sooners was in November at the Regional Playoff in Salt Lake City. BYU defeated Oklahoma in a 5-2 decision earning its seventh ever trip to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, where it placed fifth overall.

As part of the battle, the Sooners got the early lead by winning the doubles point defeating the Cougars at all three spots. BYU's Australian duo, Rebecca Pike and Nicole Schneider suffered its first loss as a team this season. The duo fell 8-5 against Oklahoma's Gabby Baker and Beth Griffin at the No. 3 position.

In singles play, BYU's No. 1 seed Barbora Zahnova fought to avenge her loss in the Regional Playoff against No. 7-ranked Anda Perianu. Perianu was too much for Zahnova as she finished the match in two straight posting a 6-2, 7-6 for Oklahoma.

Gaining the two points for the Cougars in singles were Olga Boulytcheva at the No. 4 position and Hadley Macfarlane at No. 6. Freshman Lauren Jones and junior Pike both pushed their opponents to three-set matches.

The BYU women's tennis team will be back in action on Tuesday March 16th against No. 13 Clemson on its home courts in Provo beginning at 1 p.m.

No. 32 Oklahoma 4, No. 21 BYU 2 

Tuesday, March 9, 2004

OU Headington Family Tennis Center, Norman, Okla.

Doubles

1. Perianu/Saluri (#26) (OU) def. Zahnova/Holden (#21) (BYU) 8-6

2. Lykina/Braver (OU) def. Boulytcheva/Macfarlane (BYU) 9-7

3. Baker/Griffin (OU) def. Pike/Schneider(BYU) 8-5

Singles

1. Anda Perianu (#7) (OU) def. Barbora Zahnova (#45) (BYU) 6-2, 7-6

2. Irina Lykina (OU) v. Sofia Holden (BYU) DNF

3. Gabby Baker (OU) def. Lauren Jones (BYU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2

4. Olga Boulytcheva (BYU) def. Jessica Braver (OU) 6-4, 6-3

5. Heather Saluri (OU) def. Rebecca Pike (BYU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4

6. Hadley Macfarlane (BYU) def. Beth Griffin (OU) 6-2, 6-1