Arkansas goes 6-1 in ITA Central Region Qualifier

TULSA – Senior Maryori Franco spirited the Arkansas Lady Razorback tennis team on Wednesday at the ITA Central Region Championships in Tulsa, as three Lady’Backs qualify for the main draw.

“Having six girls in the main draw of singles is very exciting for our team,” said head coach Michael Hegarty.

Along with Franco, senior Audrey Bordeleau, and freshman Delia Demaschin each qualified for the main draw which will begin on Thursday.

Franco started her day off by topping Hailie Elmore of St. Louis, 7-6, 6-1. The native of Columbia then defeated Tulsa’s own Rebecca Row, 6-3, 6-2, sealing a spot in the main draw. Franco’s first match on Thursday will be against Bryce Kristal of Southeast Missouri State.

Bordeleau’s results were no different as she started Tuesday by making easy work of Tary Grant from St. Louis, 6-0, 6-4, before toppling Utah’s Leigh Walsh, 6-2, 6-2, joining Franco in the main draw as well. Bordeleau’s first test Thursday will be against Tulsa’s Carla Zabaleta.

Demaschin kept the Arkansas tennis team rolling as she joined her teammates with two wins on Wednesday. Demaschin began play by fighting back again Jenna Webster of Tulsa, 5-7, 6-3, 10-8. Then, Demaschin took down Montana State’s Laura Villegas in fine fashion, 6-3, 6-2. Qualifying for the main draw presents No. 10 seeded Florentina Hanisch of Wichita State as Demaschin’s first opponent.

Before play began today, Arkansas had three singles players already in the main draw. Junior Ela Kaluder received the No. 1 overall seed and faces Utah’s Jane Kryunchova Thursday. Other singles players competing on Thursday will be the No. 4 seed, junior Aurelija Miseviciute, against Maureen Modesto of Missouri, and junior Nanar Airapetian against No. 12 seed Kristina Doerr of Brigham Young University.

Doubles actions will follow singles play on Thursday. Kaluder and Miseviciute, Franco and Airpetian, Bordeleau and Demaschin will all be representing Arkansas in doubles play.

Freshman Melissa Hoffmeister’s, 6-3, 6-4, loss to Colorado’s Abbie Probert proved to be the only loss on Wednesday for the Lady’Backs as they finished the qualifier with a record of 6-1.

Be sure to stick to LADYBACKS.com for results on the first round of the ITA Central Region Championships.