KU Evens Conference Record with 4-3 Win Over Oklahoma
March 28, 2008
<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>LAWRENCE, Kan. – In yet another down to the wire dual, the University of Kansas rallied to defeat Oklahoma, 4-3, Friday afternoon at First Serve. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
The victory, which improved KU to 6-8 (2-2), avenged two close losses to the Sooners last year, including a 4-3 setback in the first round of the Big 12 Championships which ended the Jayhawks’ season.
For the third time this spring, senior Lauren Hommell picked up the dual-clinching win, just as she did in Kansas’ victories over K-State and New Mexico earlier this month. With the score knotted at three and all but the No. 6 match completed, the Roswell, Ga., native rolled OU’s Tara Eckel, 6-2, 6-2, sealing a victory for the Jayhawks that snapped their streak of three-straight losses.
KU opened the day by winning two of the three doubles contest to take a quick 1-0 lead. Kansas’ No. 1 tandem of senior Elizaveta Avdeeva and junior Edina Horvath improved its record to a team-best 10-4 with win an 8-4 victory over the Sooners’ Chelsea Orr and Ana Constantinescu.
Also notching a doubles victory was the Jayhawks’ No. 2 duo of Hommell and sophomore Kunigunda Dorn, which handled Oklahoma’s pair of Christi Baxley and Elena Antakova, 8-4.
Despite the momentum from doubles play, though, Kansas was in trouble of dropping the dual after OU recorded victories in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 contests to go up 3-1. Avdeeva took the No. 1 match to three sets against Oklahoma’s Chelsea Orr, but eventually fell, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. Svistun also dropped the No. 5 matchup in three sets.
However, just after junior Yuliana Svistun fell in the No. 5 match, Horvath finished off the Sooners’ Maria Kalashnikova in three sets to get Kansas back in the dual. Horvath’s victory improved the Budapest, Hungary, native’s spring singles record to a team-best 10-4, including a 3-1 Big 12 mark.
Next to finish was the No. 4 match, where Dorn battled back after losing the first set to outlast Antakova, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1, setting the stage for Hommell’s clinching victory. After a slow start to the dual season, Dorn has come on recently, winning four of her past five matchups.
Kansas will look to keep it going on Sunday when it hosts OklahomaState. The dual is set to begin at 11 a.m., and the location will be determined by the day’s weather conditions.
Results
Doubles
1) Avdeeva/Horvath (KU) def. Orr/Constantinescu (OU), 8-4
2) Hommell/Dorn (KU) def. Baxley/Antakova (OU), 8-4
3) Eckel/Kalashnikova (OU) def. Martinez/Tokarczyk (KU), 8-4
Singles
1) #87 Ana Constantinescu (OU) def. Magdalena Tokarczyk (KU), 6-4, 6-1
2) Chelsea Orr (OU) def. Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU), 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
3) Edina Horvath (KU) def. Maria Kalashnikova (OU), 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
4) Kunigunda Dorn (KU) def. Elena Antakova (OU), 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1
5) Christi Baxley (OU) def. Yuliana Svistun (KU), 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
6) Lauren Hommell (KU) def. Tara Eckel (OU), 6-2, 6-2
