March 27, 2004

TULSA, Okla. - The Texas Tech women's tennis team lost its battle on the courts today against No. 55 Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., 5-2. The Lady Raiders posted one doubles victory and two singles victories, including senior Irina Tereschenko's upset of the nation's No. 75 player, Daniela Muscolino. Tech moves to an overall record of 9-5 and 2-3 in Big 12 Conference play.

In doubles play, the Lady Raiders lost at the first and second positions, and took home the win in the third position. In the first position, sophomore Katja Kovacic and Tereschenko were defeated by No. 47 Muscolino and Ilona Somers, 8-3. Senior Kendall Brooks and sophomore Tara Browning lost a tough match to Zoe Buhagiar and Lisette Periera, 9-7, in the second position. Taking home Tech's only win on the doubles court were freshmen Hristiyana Gocheva and Lakann Wagley who knocked off Santie Delport and Kindsay Grimes, 9-8, in the third position.

On the singles court, Tech won two out of six matches, including a stunning upset victory by Tereschenko at the first position. Tereschenko knocked off No. 75 Muscolino, 6-4, 6-0. In the second position, Brooks was defeated by No. 86 Ilona Somers, 7-6, 6-2. Browning walked away with Tech's second singles victory at the third position where she ousted Donata Majauskaite, 5-7, 7-6, 10-7. In the fourth position, Wagley lost to Pereira, 6-2, 6-1, and Kovacic, playing in the fifth position, was defeated by Timberly Greenly, 2-6, 6-0, 6-0. Rounding out singles play was Gocheva who was defeated by Delport, 6-2, 6-1, in the sixth position.

"Today's match was tough," said head coach Cari Groce. "Tulsa is a tough team. We had a ton of opportunity points today and just didn't convert them. That was the difference. It's a huge win for Irina (Tereschenko) over a top ranked player, and Tara (Browning) came back and played well. We're on the verge of taking that next step. We need to quit backing off and take advantage of playing and putting ourselves into the position of winning matches, and we need win them."

The Lady Raiders return to the McLeod Tennis Center on Fri., April 2, to take on Texas A&M at 6 p.m. This will be the first night match in school history for Texas Tech.

Results listed below:

Texas Tech 2 Tulsa 5

Singles -

No. 1 Irina Tereschenko (TTU) def. #75 Daniela Muscolino (Tulsa), 6-4, 6-0

No. 2 #86 Ilona Somers (Tulsa) def. Kendall Brooks (TTU), 7-6, 6-2

No. 3 Tara Browning (TTU) def. Donata Majauskaite (Tulsa), 5-7, 7-6, 10-7

No. 4 Lisette Pereira (Tulsa) def. Lakann Wagley (TTU), 6-2, 6-1

No. 5 Timberly Greenly (Tulsa) def. Katja Kovacic (TTU), 2-6, 6-0, 6-0

No. 6 Santie Delport (Tulsa) def. Hristiyana Gocheva (TTU), 6-2, 6-1

Doubles -

No. 1 #47 Daniela Muscolino / Ilona Somers (Tulsa) def. Katja Kovacic / Irina Tereschenko (TTU), 8-3

No. 2 Zoe Buhagiar / Lisette Pereira (Tulsa) def. Kendall Brooks / Tara Browning (TTU), 9-7

No. 3 Hristiyana Gocheva / Lakann Wagley (TTU) def. Santie Delport / Kindsay Grimes (Tulsa), 9-8