April 29, 2004

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's tennis team lost its first round match to Kansas in the Big 12 Championship this afternoon at the OU Headington Family Tennis Center in Norman, Okla. Tech moves to a spring record of 11-10 and 4-7 in Big 12 Conference play.

In doubles play, the Lady Raiders only completed the first and third position matches. Since the Lady Raiders lost the doubles point, the second match was not finished. In the first position, senior Kendall Brooks and sophomore Tara Browning were knocked off by Courtney Steinbock and Kristen Steinbock, 8-4, while freshmen Lakann Wagley and Hristiyana Gocheva were defeated by Christine Skoda and Brittany Brown, 8-4, in the third spot.

In singles action, Tech completed only four singles matches before losing the match. In the first position, No. 107 senior Irina Tereschenko was defeated by C. Steinbock, 6-2, 7-6 (3), while Browning was ousted by Skoda, 7-6, 6-3, in the third spot. In the sixth position, Gocheva was defeated by Luizxa Loureiro, 6-2, 6-3. Taking home Tech's only victory on the day was sophomore Katja Kovacic, who defeated Brown, 6-1, 6-2, in the fifth position.

"Kansas came out and wanted it more than us," said head coach Cari Groce. "I congratulate Amy (Hall) and the Jayhawks. I don't think that we were as prepared as we needed to be when we stepped out on the court. Our leadership on the team was not there and it really made a big impact."

Results listed below:

Doubles:

No. 1 Courtney Steinbock / Kristen Steinbock (KU) def. Tara Browning / Kendall Brooks (TTU), 8-4

No. 3 Christine Skoda / Brittany Brown (KU) def. Lakann Wagley / Hristiyana Gocheva (TTU), 8-4

Singles:

No. 1 Courtney Steinbock def. No. 107 Irina Tereschenko (TTU), 6-2, 7-6 (3)

No. 2 Kendall Brooks (TTU) vs. Emily Haylock (KU), DNF

No. 3 Christine Skoda (KU) def. Tara Browning (TTU), 7-6, 6-3

No. 4 Lakann Wagley (TTU) vs. Kristen Steinbock (KU), DNF

No. 5 Katja Kovacic (TTU) def. Brittany Brown (KU), 6-1, 6-2

No. 6 Luiza Loureiro (KU) def. Hristiyana Gocheva (TTU), 6-2, 6-3