Feb. 5, 2010

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 30 women's tennis team (2-2) remains on the road this weekend, traveling to Norman to battle the Oklahoma Sooners (3-0) on Saturday, Feb. 6. The match is slated to begin at noon (CST).

"This is another one of those matches that is going to help us to get the preparation we need for Southeastern Conference play," UA head coach Jenny Mainz said. "This will also be a great road test for us. Last weekend, we were a handful of points away from a very different outcome, but none the less, we got a lot out of our experiences in Atlanta."

The Crimson Tide is coming off two tough losses last weekend as part of ITA Kick-Off Weekend. On Saturday, Alabama battled SEC foe and then-No. 34 Kentucky to the final match before falling 4-3. The Tide claimed the doubles point, but could not put the Wildcats away in singles play. Four of the six singles matches went to three sets, with Kentucky winning all four.

It was another tough day for Alabama on Sunday, once again taking the doubles point before watching the lead slip away against No. 29 Arizona State. Freshman Alexa Guarachi, who is ranked No. 82 nationally, picked up a straight sets win at the No. 2 spot in singles. However, that was the only singles victory the Tide could claim, as the Sun Devils took the match 4-2.

Oklahoma is in the midst of a five-match home stand to open the season. All three victories for the Sooners this season have been sweeps, with the latest coming against North Texas on Wednesday. Oklahoma has yet to drop a doubles match this season, and has only lost two sets in singles on the season. The pair of junior Ana-Maria Constantinescu and freshman Teona Tsertsvadze is ranked No. 39 in the nation in doubles, while Constantinescu is currently No. 56 in singles.

The series between Alabama and the Sooners is even at 3-3, with the Tide picking up a 4-2 win last season in Tuscaloosa.

"We're going to have to play tough and be ready against Oklahoma," Mainz added. "The objective this season is to pick up our game a notch each week and keep our best tennis in front of us. This team is ready to get back on the courts and compete for a win."

Alabama will return home next weekend when it hosts No. 57 Georgia State at noon (CST) on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium.