Battle for first place in the SEC highlights road weekend for No. 13 Lady'Back tennis

FAYETTEVILLE – Riding a five-match win-streak in Southeastern Conference play, the 13th-ranked University of Arkansas Lady Razorback tennis team will clash for first place in the conference in the first leg of two SEC match-ups during the weekend.

The Lady’Backs (12-5, 5-1 in SEC) will take on the No. 4 Florida Gators (12-1, 6-0 in SEC) on Friday at 2:00 p.m., with each team currently at the top of their respectable division. The winner of this SEC clash will have control of the outright lead in the SEC during the heart of conference season. If Arkansas takes the match it will not only put them into a comfortable position in the standings, but would also be the program’s first ever victory against the Gators dating back to 1992 when the series began.

The Gators have an arsenal of weapons with four players currently ranked nationally. Csilla Borsanyi leads the pack at No. 28, followed by Julie Cohen at No. 36, No. 93 Anastasia Revzina, and Megan Alexander rounding out the group at No. 117. In doubles, Alexander and Marrit Boonstra are No. 8, while Cohen and Revzina appear at No. 44.

Arkansas’ No. 122 Ela Kaluder was named SEC Player of the Week on Tuesday, and the Lady’Backs are hoping to clinch the doubles point for the tenth consecutive time on Friday. Kaluder, No. 1 Aurelija Miseviciute and Audrey Bordeleau are all leading the team with five wins apiece in SEC action. Miseviciute and Bordeleau currently lead the team in dual-match wins with 14 each.

On Sunday, Arkansas will travel east and take on the 34th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (10-5, 3-3 in SEC) at 10 a.m.. The Gamecocks are coming off a sweep last weekend against Mississippi State, 6-1, and Ole Miss, 4-3. In the singles rankings, South Carolina has Gira Schofield at No. 44 and Ana Zubori at No. 75. Shofield and Zubori combine to make a No. 33 ranked doubles duo. The Lady’Backs will look to avenge a, 7-0, loss against the Gamecocks last season in Fayetteville.

Be sure to visit LADYBACKS.COM for immediate results and information following each match.