April 29, 1999

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Despite winning two of the first three singles matches, the No. 10 seeded Texas Tech University women's tennis team fell to seventh seed Oklahoma in the first round of the Big 12 Women's Tennis Championship by a score of 6-2.

The loss ends the Red Raiders season at 4-18 overall (2-9 in Big 12). Oklahoma advances to play Colorado in the quarterfinals.

Sophomore Alenka Ovin (No. 2 singles) knocked off Viviana Mracknova 0-6, 7-6, 7-5. The win was her team-leading 15th on the season. Junior Amanda Earhart (No. 3 singles) picked up the second individual victory for Tech by defeating Danielle Knipp 7-5, 6-1, giving the Red Raiders a brief lead in the match. Oklahoma claimed the final three singles and the next two doubles matches. The No. 1 doubles match between Zana Zlebnik and Ovin and Oklahoma's Knipp and Raluca Gheorghe was not completed.

"It was very competitive out there; unfortunately we came up a little short," said Texas Tech coach Mary Dailey.

Singles:
1.  Raluca Gheorghe (OU) def. Zana Zlebnik (TT) 6-3, 6-0
2.  Alenka Ovin (TT) def. Viviana Mracnova (OU) 0-6, 7-6, 7-5
3.  Amanda Earhart (TT) def. Danielle Knipp (OU) 7-5, 6-1
4.  Jennie Hamilton (OU) def. Ghislaine Hernandez (TT) 6-0, 6-0
5.  Kristin Guilford (OU) def. Misty Meyer (TT) 6-1, 6-0
6.  Angela Stroup (OU) def. Noel Ruiz (TT) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles:
1.  Zlebnik/Ovin (TT) vs. Gheorghe/Knipp (OU) DNF
2.  Mracnova/Guilford (OU) def. Earhart/Meyer (TT) 8-4
3.  Stroup/Hamilton (OU) def. Hernandez/Ruiz (TT) 8-2