Back on the winning track in Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. – The 15th-ranked Razorback women’s tennis team put an end to their three-match losing streak on Sunday afternoon after defeating the Auburn Tigers, 6-1, at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Ala.

After dropping matches to the likes of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama, the Hogs were able to beat an Auburn team that continues to search for its first conference victory after its loss on Sunday. Arkansas was able to get a fast start in doubles with three straight wins and then win the following first four singles matches in straight sets to earn the easy victory. With the win, Arkansas moves to 14-7 on the year overall and 4-4 in conference play. Meanwhile, Auburn falls to 4-13 and 0-8 in the SEC.

“This is always a hotly contested match and today was no exception,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “We’re pleased to get a good road win as we enter a big homestand.”

In those early doubles matches, the high-ranked team of senior Anouk Tigu and Claudine Paulson won their 14th dual match of the season with a 8-3 win over Olivia Bennett and Paulina Schippers. Once the stage was set with two matches still to go, sophomore Valentina Starkova and junior Emily Carbone clinched the doubles point after defeating Caroline Thornton and Taylor Cohen, 8-4 on court three.

Juniors Kate Lukomskaya and Stephanie Roy made it a clean doubles sweep for the Razorbacks on court two as they finished things out with an 8-5 win over Plamena Kurteva and Jacqueline Kasler. That win is the doubles team’s 9th of the spring together.

With the early 1-0 lead heading into singles, it was time for the Razorbacks to turn their attention to singles. The first court winner came from the No. 6 spot where Starkova won only her fourth singles match in dual play, but 14th overall on the season. A 6-1, 6-3 win over Cohen gave Arkansas a huge 2-0 advantage.

At the top court, the 27th-ranked Tigu continued the trend in favor of the Razorbacks with her own straight set win over Schippers, 6-1, 6-2. It was then followed by Carbone, who beat Kasler, 6-4, 6-1, to give Arkansas the unofficial 4-0 win. The win for Carbone puts her over the 20-win plateau as she now sits at 20-14 on the season.

The Hogs would finish out the remaining three matches with wins from Lukomskaya and Roy to give the team score its final of 6-1. Lukomskaya, with her win, breaks a losing streak of four straight matches suffered before getting the tough three-set win over Olivia Bennett.

The women’s tennis team will finish out the season with a three-match home stand and two of those matches will be played next weekend. The first match coming against Kentucky on Friday at noon and then Vanderbilt on Sunday, also at noon. Both matches will be played at the Billingsley Tennis Center. For all information regarding the Razorback women’s tennis team, log on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. No. 15 Arkansas 6Auburn 1Complete Doubles ResultsOrder of Finish: 1, 3*, 2No. 1 #24 Anouk Tigu/Claudine Paulson (ARK) def. Olivia Bennett/Paulina Schippers (AU) 8-3No. 2 Kate Lukomskaya/Stephanie Roy (ARK) def. Jacqueline Kasler/Plamena Kurteva (AU) 8-5No. 3 Valentina Starkova/Emily Carbone (ARK) def. Caroline Thornton/Taylor Cohen (AU) 8-4Complete Singles ResultsOrder of Finish: 6, 1, 5*, 2, 4, 3No. 1 #27 Anouk Tigu (ARK) def. Paulina Schippers (AU) 6-1, 6-2No. 2 Stephanie Roy (ARK) def. Caroline Thornton (AU) 6-2, 6-4No. 3 Kate Lukomskaya (ARK) def. Olivia Bennett (AU) 6-2, 2-6, 1-0(8)No. 4 Plamena Kurteva (AU) def. Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0(6)No. 5 Emily Carbone (ARK) def. Jacqueline Kasler (AU) 6-4, 6-1No. 6 Valentina Starkova (ARK) def. Taylor Cohen (AU) 6-1, 6-3