Arkansas Fact Sheet 3

Out of the Gates- Lady’Backs tennis wasted no time gathering wins for the 2005 spring season. Arkansas spent the weekend competing in three matches that all produced the same score. The Lady’Backs defeated Oral Roberts, Wichita State, and Saint Louis 7-0.
Shutout- The two-day tennis-athon made some history. The three shutout matches won by Arkansas marks the first time the Lady Razorbacks have ever opened a season with three shutouts. The last time won three shutouts was during the 1996-97 season in Honolulu, HI, where Arkansas shutout Chaminade, Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific, and Northern Iowa for the only four consecutive match shutout in Lady’Back history.
6-0, 6-0- For the first time in Lady Razorback tennis history, the Lady’Backs won every singles point with a score of 6-0, 6-0. They won the match against Oral Roberts University 7-0.
Franco/ Ledaja- On the doubles court, junior Karina Ledaja and freshman Maryori Franco are a perfect 5-0 when playing together in the 2004-05 season.
Over the Hill- Junior Melissa Cornett garnered her 40th career singles win on Sunday against Saint Louis’ Rachel McCullugh, 6-1, 6-1.
Big 50- Senior Iliana Pacheco won her 50th career singles match on Friday, Feb. 29 against Oral Roberts’ Laine Sommer, 6-0, 6-0.
Streaks- Three Lady’Back netters are currently building on three-match winning streaks in singles. Senior Iliana Pacheco along with junior Karina Ledaja and freshman Maryori Franco have a chance to extend their streaks this Friday against the University of Tulsa.
The week ahead- For the first time in two years, the Lady’Backs do not have a five-match or more home stand to open the season. Instead, Arkansas will travel to Tulsa Friday for a regional showdown with the 50th ranked Golden Hurricane at 5:00 p.m. The Lady Razorbacks remain in Tulsa until Sunday when Oklahoma State comes to town for a 1:00 p.m. match against the undefeated Lady’Backs.
About Tulsa- Until recent memory, the Lady Razorbacks enjoyed an undefeated 17-0 record against the Golden Hurricane, but the last two years were not as fortunate. The Lady’Backs lost for the first time to Tulsa in the 2002-03 season, and suffered their second loss last year, 5-2, in Fayetteville.
About Oklahoma State- Though the all-time match record against the Cowgirls is rather unnerving, 0-9, the two teams have not met in a dual match since the 1992-93 season. However, Oklahoma State was one of the teams competing at the Lady Razorback Fall Invitational last September. At the event, the Lady’Backs and Cowgirls squared off in several close matches, with the Lady’Backs edging OSU 7-5 in singles and 4-1 in doubles.
By the numbers- The Lady Razorbacks had an impressive weekend in game win/loss ratio. The Lady Razorbacks won 217 games total in singles matches over the three-match weekend. That compares to the 35 games won in 18 singles matches by Oral Roberts, Wichita State, and Saint Louis Combined. In other words, the Lady Razorbacks averaged over six game wins for every single game won by opponents.
Ledaja from Liepaja- Junior transfer Karina Ledaja is enjoying her first year as a Lady’Back. The Liepaja, Latvia native has tallied the most singles wins for the Lady Razorbacks this season with a record of 15-5. Her last three matches have all been wins in which she has won with an average score of 6-1. in each set.
Regional Rumble- With the regional matches coming up this weekend, the Lady Razorbacks look to Juniors Vlatka Jovanovic and Melissa Cornett as well as freshman Maryori Franco for wins. The three Arkansas players are tied on the team for the most records against regional schools with each holding a 7-2 record.