Razorbacks shut out by Gamecocks

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 40th-ranked Razorback women’s tennis team had a tough outing against the 32nd-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks as it was shutout, 7-0, Sunday afternoon in Columbia, S.C. The Razorbacks did earn one win on the day in doubles as sophomore Laurie Gingras and junior Claudine Paulson defeated 68th-ranked Jaklin Alawi and Dijana Stojic, 8-3, for their second ranked victory of the year.

It was the only victory for the Razorbacks on Sunday as they were defeated in straight sets on four of the six singles courts and then lost three setters at courts three and five. Arkansas with the loss falls to 10-11 on the year and 2-8 in the Southeastern Conference, while South Carolina goes up to 14-6 and 5-5 in league play.

“We really had our shot to win the doubles point and take the lead in the overall match,” Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said. “I thought we played really well in all the singles courts for one set, but we just weren’t able to put complete matches together. I give credit to South Carolina for making it difficult for us today.”

Arkansas did have a good opportunity in doubles as Gingras and Paulson were the first ones off after their win. Gingras and Paulson are now 8-14 on the year and have seven dual match wins this season. Unfortunately, South Carolina took the final two doubles courts by scores of 8-5 and 8-6 to take the early 1-0 lead into singles.

In singles, Arkansas made it fairly interesting as first sets at courts one and four were tied at 5-all before the Gamecocks won two straight games at both courts to win first sets by 7-5 scores. Even a tiebreaker first set at court two went USC’s way as 68th-ranked Alawi took the first frame from senior Emily Carbone, 7-6(4), to help give the Gamecocks first set wins at all six courts. 

Not long after, USC earned singles victories at courts six and four in that order before getting the clincher at court one from 35th-ranked Anya Morgina over senior Stephanie Roy, 7-5, 6-1. Arkansas did force three sets at courts three and five after Paulson shut out her opponent, 6-0, in the second set, but then lost, 6-3, in the final set. Senior Kate Lukomskaya had a similar story at the number five position as she won the second set over 71st-ranked Stojic, 6-3, but then was dropped in a third-set super tiebreaker, 1-0(5). 

The Razorbacks have two matches remaining on their regular season schedule as they will travel to Tulsa, Okla. on Wednesday to face Tulsa in a final non-conference match. The first serve is scheduled to go up at 1 p.m. The Razorbacks will conclude the regular season on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. against the LSU Tigers. That match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start as well. 

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2*

No. 1 Laurie Gingras/Claudine Paulson (ARK) def. #68 Jaklin Alawi/Dijana Stojic (USC) 8-3

No. 2 Dominika Kanakova/Anya Morgina (USC) def. Stephanie Roy/Emily Carbone (ARK) 8-5

No. 3 Josefin Andersson/Katerina Popova (USC) def. Kate Lukomskaya/Catherine Parenteau (ARK) 8-6

Order of Finish: 6, 4, 1*, 2, 5, 3

No. 1 #35 Anya Morgina (USC) def. Stephanie Roy (ARK) 7-5, 6-1

No. 2 #68 Jaklin Alawi (USC) def. Emily Carbone (ARK) 7-6(4), 6-0

No. 3 Dominika Kanakova (USC) def. Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3

No. 4 Katerina Popova (USC) def. Laurie Gingras (ARK) 7-5, 6-2

No. 5 #71 Dijana Stojic (USC) def. Kate Lukomskaya (ARK) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0(5)

No. 6 Adriana Pereira (USC) def. Catherine Parenteau (ARK) 6-4, 6-2