TULSA, Okla. – New Head Coach Beverly Dawson and the Oral Roberts University women’s tennis team competed at the ITA/USTA Central Regional Championships in Tulsa over the weekend, gaining valuable experience ahead of the spring season. Five Golden Eagles saw action at the event.

Three ORU players competed in the qualifying rounds of the singles competition. Melanie Marlin won her opener, a 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) victory over Sasha Ruocco of Central Arkansas before falling to Minnesota’s Julia Courter, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.

2012 All-Summit League selection Tori Dollar fell in her opener, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, to Brooke Urzendowski of Saint Louis. But she recovered to win her consolation draw match, a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Kriza Buck of Central Arkansas.

Newcomer Natalia Dollar dropped both of her qualifying round matches, a 6-1, 6-0 loss to Oklahoma’s Zita Engbrooks and a 6-4, 6-2 setback to Stephanie Gonzalez of Central Arkansas.

In doubles play, Tori Dollar and Marizanne Bouwer lost their opener, 8-3, to C.C. Sardinia and Meghan Bleveins of Oklahoma State. Marlin and Haley Martin were also eliminated in their first match, 8-6, to Minnesota’s Doron Muravnik and Teresa Brichacova.

Last but not least, Martin was placed in the singles main draw, where she was knocked off by Melanie Delsart of Southern Illinois in the opening round, 6-3, 6-4.

ORU returns five players from the 2012 squad, which went 13-6 and captured the program’s eighth Summit League title.