April 27, 1999

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's tennis team will open play in the 1999 Big 12 Conference Women's Tennis Championship when it takes on Oklahoma at 8:30 am on Thursday in College Station, Texas.

The Red Raiders have lost 11 straight matches and have a record of 4-17 overall (2-9 in Big 12) entering the tournament. Oklahoma is 11-10 overall (6-5 in Big 12). The Sooners beat Tech on April 17 by a score of 7-2.

Sophomore Alenka Ovin leads Texas Tech in singles victories this season. She has posted a record of 14-7 (6-5 in Big 12) playing mostly No. 2 singles. Freshman Noel Ruiz is second on the squad in singles wins with eight. Her record for the season stands at 8-13 (3-8 in Big 12). Ruiz has a mark of 6-6 when playing at No. 6 singles. Junior Amanda Earhart and sophomore Zana Zlebnik are tied for third on the team with seven wins apiece. Earhart has a record of 7-9 (3-7 in Big 12) despite missing five matches due to injuries. Zlebnik, last years Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year, has a 7-14 overall record (3-8 in Big 12). Leading the current roster of Red Raiders in doubles victories is the team of Ovin and Zlebnik with four.

Oklahoma has been ranked in the Top-100 in the nation for most of the season. The Sooners are led by Kristin Guilford and Danielle Knipp who lead the team in singles victories. The Sooners top doubles tandem is Guilford and Viviana Mracnova.

The winner of the match advances to play Colorado on Friday at 12:00 pm.