Texas Tech Athletics
Oklahoma (Big 12 Tournament)
Lady Raiders' Singles Steps up Against Sooners
April 24, 2008 | Women's Tennis
April 24, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas Tech Women's Team finally found its stroke in singles defeating the Oklahoma Sooners today in the first round of the 2008 Big 12 Championships. Next up the Lady Raiders will meet the Big 12 defending Champions No. 3 Baylor tomorrow at 9 a.m.
"The outcome was much more enjoyable against OU today," said Head Coach Cari Groce. "As a team we had a long chat and decided to commit ourselves to a better performance. We came out flat against them the first time, and today we definitely played sharp and much better tennis."
Tech sunk in its 13th doubles victory with contributing wins from the No. 1 and 3 courts. The rookie pair of Kelsy Garland and Simone Templeton put themselves back on the winning track as they rolled past OU's Jessica Cox and Maria Antikova, 8-2. The point was clinched by Tech's No. 41-ranked team of Janet Durham and Samantha van der Drift as they got their eighth win at No. 1 by defeating Ana-Maria Constanescu and Chelsea Orr, 8-6.
Senior Durham led her team right into singles action as she took a swift 6-1, 6-1, win over Orr (OU) at No. 2. Oklahoma's top player, No. 111-ranked Constanescu, gave the Sooners its only point by defeating van der Drift in straight sets. Sophomore Kerryn Potgieter proved too much for OU's Christi Baxley, taking the 6-4, 6-4, win at No. 5. Ahead 3-1, the match was clinched for the Lady Raiders by senior Brenna Jackson who played her first singles match of the season. At No. 6 Jackson and Tara Eckel went toe-to-toe, but it was Jackson's relentless attitude that helped her find a break in both sets winning 7-5, 7-5.
Tomorrow the Lady Raiders will take on the top-seeded Baylor squad, who is currently ranked No. 3 nationally after going 11-0 during the Big 12 regular season. The team is led by four nationally ranked singles players, and two ranked doubles duos. Tech suffered a 7-0 sweep in its conference opener earlier this season in Lubbock.
"This is the time of year when you need to come out and play your best tennis," said Groce in regards to tomorrow's match against the Bears. "Getting to play them already helps us know what to expect. We're just going to go out there and fight, and really go at them hard."
Live updates will be available for Friday's match via the following link, http://www.aggieathletics.com/specialsites/2008big12tennis/. For more information and a complete bracket of this year's conference championships, visit the men's tennis page at www.big12sports.com.
Texas Tech - 4
Oklahoma - 1
George P. Mitchell Tennis Center
College Station, Texas
Doubles: 2, 3, 1*
1. Durham/van der Drift (TTU) def. Constanescu/Orr (OU); 8-6
2. Baxley/Kalashnikova (OU) def. Jackson/Potgieter (TTU); 8-3
3. Garland/Templeton (TTU) def. Cox/Antikova (OU); 8-2
Singles: 2, 1, 5, 6*
1. #111 Ana-Maria Constanescu (OU) def. Samantha van der Drift (TTU); 6-0, 6-3
2. Janet Durham (TTU) def. Chelsea Orr (OU); 6-1, 6-1
3. Kelsy Garland (TTU) vs. Maria Kalashnikova (OU); 7-6(1), 3-6, 0-1
4. Simone Templeton (TTU) vs. Elena Antikova (OU); 6-2, 0-6, 5-2
5. Kerryn Potgieter (TTU) def. Christi Baxley (OU); 6-4, 6-4
6. Brenna Jackson (TTU) def. Tara Eckel (OU); 7-5, 7-5
Players Mentioned
