OU Loses to Texas in Austin, 5-2

The Sooners fell to No. 27 Texas on Friday after claiming an early lead in doubles.

Sophomore Tara Eckel

March 20, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Oklahoma dropped a tough road match to No. 27 Texas on Friday, losing to the Longhorns, 5-2.

Oklahoma (6-8, 0-3 Big 12) showed improvements against a talented Texas team, especially in doubles play. The Sooners claimed the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead against the Longhorns, winning two of the three doubles matches.

Sophomore Tara Eckel and freshman Marie-Pier Huet continued their success at the No. 2 doubles spot. The duo defeated Krista Damico and Maggie Mello of Texas, 9-7. Eckel and Huet hold an 8-2 record at the No. 2 spot as a pair, including a current six-match winning streak. OU’s freshman duo, Peta Maree Lancaster and Kristina Radan, defeated Amanda Craddock and Caroline Larsson of Texas, 8-5.

“We played a really great match today, I saw some of the best tennis I have seen all year,” OU head coach David Mullins said. “Our doubles play continues to get better and to win the doubles point against a team like Texas is a huge boost for our young team.”

The Sooners struggled in singles play, claiming only one of the six singles points. Sophomore standout Ana-Maria Constantinescu won at the No. 1 singles spot against Texas’ Vanja Corovic, who is ranked No. 96 nationally. Constantinescu holds a 10-2 record on the season at the No. 1 singles spot. Friday’s win against Corovic marks Constantinescu’s second win against a nationally-ranked individual this season.

The Sooners end their four-match road series in College Station, Texas, as they take on No. 36 Texas A&M on Sunday, March 22. Doubles competition will begin at 1 p.m.

Texas 5, Oklahoma 2
Doubles
1. No. 25 Corovic/Milic (UT) def. Constantinescu/Kalashnikova (OU), 9-8
2. Eckel/Huet (OU) def. Damico/Mello (UT), 9-7
3. Lancaster/Radan (OU) def. Craddock/Larsson (UT), 8-5

Singles
1. Ana-Maria Constantinescu (OU) def. No. 96 Vanja Corovic (UT), 6-4, 2-1, ret.
2. Caroline Larsson (UT) def. Maria Kalashnikova (OU), 6-1, 4-6, 7-6
3. Krista Damico (UT) def. Kristina Radan (OU), 6-3, 6-4
4. Maggie Mello (UT) def. Marie-Pier Huet (OU), 7-6, 6-4
5. Amanda Craddock (UT) def. Peta Maree Lancaster (OU), 6-2, 6-0
6. Sarah Lancaster (UT) def. Tara Eckel (OU), 6-2, 6-4

OU inspires champions today and prepares leaders for tomorrow by enabling its student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations. The OU Athletics Department sponsors 21 varsity sports with more than 600 student-athletes and is completely self-supporting.

OU Athletics Department | Sooner Tradition | Staff Directory | Contact Us

Sooner Sports Properties, LLC, is the multimedia rights holder for athletics at the University of Oklahoma. Sooner Sports Properties is a joint venture of Learfield Communications, Renda Broadcasting and Griffin Television.

Advertising & Sponsorships | Premier Partners | OU Radio & TV Affiliates