Freshman Teona Tsertsvadze and Junior Ana-Maria Constantinescu play against the opposing team from Alabama. The women's tennis tournament was held on Saturday afternoon at the Gregg Wadley Tennis Pavilion. Jall Cowasji/The Daily

Doubles play may only count for one point, but one point was all OU needed to clinch a team victory against No. 30 Alabama over the weekend.

Almost simultaneously, the No. 2 and No. 3 position doubles teams won their sets, giving OU an early lead. Juniors Tara Eckel and Maria Kalashnikova won their set 8-1. Moments later, freshman Katelyn Connelly and sophomore Marie-Pier Huet clinched the doubles point, 8-3.

“We have so much fun when we’re out there,” Connelly said. “We just bring a lot of energy.”

By winning the doubles point, the Sooners needed to at least split the six singles matches to win the team match against No. 30 Alabama. After sweeping the first three matches of the year, OU had to deal with adversity in the competition.

The first three matches to finish saw Huet, junior Ana-Maria Constantinescu and freshman Teona Tsertsvadze fall, each in straight sets. Eckel continued to dominate, winning 6-4, 6-4.

Only Kalashnikova and junior Kristina Radan were left on the court. Playing alongside each other, the roommates kept each other motivated.

Radan’s match went an extra set as she won 6-4, 7-5. Kalashnikova had been up 4-0 in her first set, only to lose 6-4 Alabama senior Paulina Bigos. She stormed back in the second set taking it 6-1, leaving one set to decide the team match. Kalashnikova controlled the last set all the way through and clinched the match for the Sooners with a 6-3 victory.

“I knew that my match was crucial for the team, so I got so nervous,” Kalashnikova said. “I think the crowd that came out there really helped me. … It went pretty quick, those [last] two games.”

On her 21st birthday, Kalashnikova’s afternoon ended successfully.

“We played a really great match, we just killed them,” Kalashnikova said. “It gave me more confidence going into singles.”

Connelly said head coach David Mullins has made a difference for the team.

“I knew coming in he was here to make a difference,” Connelly said. “Over a year you can see the biggest improvements. He never doubts us one bit.”

Doubles partners Eckel and Kalashnikova have carried the team so far. They’re the only Sooners to play singles and doubles in all four of OU’s matches. Both are undefeated.

“I’m not surprised at all with the way they’ve started the year.” Mullins said.

OU hosts Penn State on Valentine’s Day. Doubles start at 11 a. m.