Bordeleau vaults 30th-ranked Lady'Backs to third straight SEC win
FAYETTEVILLE– Another dynamite performance by senior Audrey Bordeleau snapped another decade long losing-streak as the 30th-ranked University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks captured their third-straight Southeastern Conference win, 4-3, over 15th-ranked Kentucky on Sunday.
“This was such a great performance by our team because it followed another excellent performance on Friday against Vanderbilt,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty.
Arkansas snapped its’ second 10-match losing streak to an SEC opponent in as many matches. The Lady’Backs hadn’t beaten Kentucky since 1998.
After dropping the first set, 4-6, to Lauren Meier, Bordeleau took over the match winning the final two sets, 6-3, 6-3, snatching her second-straight clincher for the Lady’Backs, and team-leading 13th victory in singles.
“Clinching an SEC match is one of the toughest single things to do,” Hegarty said. “Audrey has been a solid rock all season and everyone is confident when the match is up to her, like today.”
Arkansas (10-5, 3-1 in SEC) once again got the match started in their favor by sweeping doubles, and earning their seventh-consecutive doubles point.
Number 59 Audrey Bordeleau and Anouk Tigu made easy work of Meier and Sarah Woestmann, 8-2. The clincher took place when 21st-ranked Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder overcame No. 50 Megan Broderick and Carolina Escamilla, 9-7. Number 54 Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian completed the sweep, 8-6, over Christine Johnston and Alaina Trgovich.
Aurelija Miseviciute put her No. 1 ranking on display by crushing No. 77 Woestmann, 6-1, 6-2, to give the Lady’Backs a quick 2-0 lead.
However, Kentucky (10-5, 1-3 in SEC) fought back to win three straight matches putting them ahead 3-2. Johnston dropped Franco, 6-4, 6-4, while Escamilla took down Tigu, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, and Broderick defeated Kaluder, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, putting the Wildcats one point away from the clincher.
A huge straight-set win by Airapetian, 7-5, 6-3, over Trgovich put the match back even at 3-3, allowing Bordeleau to capture another match clincher.
In a nail biting match like Sunday, Hegarty knows he got every ounce of energy from all of his players.
“Every player displayed their best toughness of the season,” Hegarty said. “It bodes will in our progression throughout the season and for what is up coming."
The Lady’Backs will not be back in action until March 21 when they travel to Knoxville to take on Tennessee.
For updated rankings and statistics stay tuned to LADYBACKS.COM.
#30 Arkansas-4
#15 Kentucky-3
Singles
1. #1 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark.) def. #77 Sarah Woestmann(UK), 6-1, 6-2.
2. Megan Broderick (UK) def. Ela Kaluder (Ark.), 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
3. Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. Anouk Tigu (Ark.), 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
4. Christine Johnston (UK) def. Maryori Franco (Ark.), 6-4, 6-4.
5. Nanar Airapetian (Ark.) def. Alaina Trgovich (UK), 7-5, 6-3.
6. Audrey Bordeleau (Ark.) def. Lauren Meier (UK), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Match Notes: (Order of Finish:1,4,3,2,5,6*)
Doubles
1. #21 Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (Ark.) def. #50 Megan Broderick/Carolina Escamilla (UK), 9-7.
2. #54 Maryori Franco/Nanar Airapetian (Ark.) def. Christine Johnston/Alaina Trgovich (UK), 8-6
3. #59 Audrey Bordeleau/Anouk Tigu (Ark.) def. Lauren Meier/Sarah Woestmann (UK), 8-2.
Match Notes: (Order of Finish: 3,1*,2)
