University of Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Squeaks Out Win Over Tigers
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Tennis
April 20, 2002
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 45 ranked Oklahoma Sooners slipped by the No. 65 Mizzou women's tennis team 4-3 Saturday in MU's final home match of the season. The match was the final one of a very competitive Big 12 season for Mizzou. The Tigers are now 10-11. Of the Tiger's 11 losses, seven have been by a score of 4-3.
"Well, we ended our Big 12 year similar to the way we started it," MU Head Coach Blake Starkey said. "Anytime you lose, it's painful. But the 4-3 score hurts the most because you are so close. Today, we were literally two points from the win. We really have a lot of respect for Bethany and all of Oklahoma's players. They are a very classy group.
"Today was exciting, but it just didn't happen. I hate that our girls have had to endure as many of these 4-3s as they have. But we will be stronger in the long run for having gone through this. We have competed with everyone this year, and I am very proud of this group - there are some great things in store for them. And there were some great things in today's match. Urska and Katka won in doubles again, and this will surely put them among the top two teams in our region - they've had the best year of any doubles team I've ever worked with."
On Saturday, MU senior Caitlin Thompson competed in her final home match for Mizzou and picked up a victory in singles play.
The Tigers next action will be in the Big 12 Championships in College Station, Texas starting on Thursday.
Singles
Anda Perianu (OU) def. Urska Juric (MU) 6-2, 6-4
Elena Jirnova (OU) def. Katka Sevcikova (MU) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
Annette Bryntesson (OU) def. Mary Barry (MU) 6-0, 6-4
Kristina Olshanskaya (MU) def. Heather Saluri (OU) 6-1, ret.
Lucie Ruskova (MU) def. Bethany Griffin (OU) 6-4, 6-1
Caitlin Thompson (MU) def. Melissa Mendida (OU) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
Juric/Sevcikova (MU) def. Griffin/Saluri (OU) 8-5
Braver/Bryntesson (OU) def. Olshanskaya/Ruskova (MU) 8-5
Mendita/Perianu (OU) def. Thompson/Barry (MU) 8-3
