Fall Fact Sheet 1

Up Next

The Lady’Backs tennis team will begin the fall season at the William & Mary Tribe Classic in Williamsburg, Virginia on September 14-16. The tournament has an ACC spice featuring such tennis teams as Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, and Boston College, as well as Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, Michigan State, and William and Mary.

Let’s Do It Again:

This years Lady Razorback tennis team’s roster will look a lot like last years. Only one new freshman has been added and no graduating seniors from last year’s squad. After finishing at 11-10 overall and 4-7 in the Southeaster Conference, the Lady’Backs should be very eager for their upcoming matches after adding another year of action under their belt.

Kaluder Turns Heads:

Leading the Lady’Backs on court one, junior Ela Kaluder was honored by the International Tennis Association at the conclusion of the 2007 spring season. Kaluder was named Central Region Player to Watch by the ITA, after posting a 15-7 record for the Lady’Backs. Kaluder is ranked No. 25 in the nation according to the fall ITA preseason singles rankings.

How It Works

For the upcoming Williams & Mary Tribe Classic the format will look very different from that of spring play. The tournament will consist of six flights; A, B, C, D, E, and F. There will be 16 players in action for each of those flights.

Double Trouble:

Senior Maryori Franco and junior Nanar Airapetian are ranked No. 25 in the ITA fall preseason doubles rankings. The dynamic duo for the Lady’Backs finished the season 14-7 overall and 6-5 in Southeastern conference action. Franco and Airapetian also paired to spend much of last season in the top 50 rankings in doubles action.

Welcome Aboard:

The Lady Razorbacks tennis team welcomes a new assistant coach for the upcoming season: Jereon Joling. Joling comes to Arkansas after serving as assistant coach, then interim head coach, at Boston University. Joling also received his Master’s Degree in Counseling and Sports Psychology from Boston University in May of 2007. While coaching the Lady Terriers, Joling led the team to their first ranking in seven years.

Deuce Digits:

Head coach Michael Hegarty is looking to lead the Lady’Backs to their fourth consecutive double digit win season. Prior to the 2004-2005 season, there was a three seasons stretch before the Lady’Backs posted a season with double digit wins. In the past three seasons under Hegarty the Lady’Backs went 11-11, 10-11, and 11-11 respectively.

Living on Tulsa Time:

Although the Lady Razorbacks tennis team is making trips from the East coast to the West coast, they will make two stops in one city: Tulsa, Oklahoma. On September 21-23 the Lady’Backs will be playing in the Tulsa Invitational, then head back again on October 17-21 for the ITA Central Regional Championships.

What To Expect

According to head coach Michael Hegarty, here’s the lineup to expect for the first tournament of the season:

Singles

Flight A- Ela Kaluder, Jr., Aurelija Miseviciute, Jr.

Flight B-Maryori Franco, Sr.

Flight C- Audrey Bordeleau, Sr., Nanar Airapetian, Jr.

Flight D- Delia Damaschin, Fr.

Flight E- Melissa Hoffmeister, So.

Doubles

Flight A- Kaluder/Miseviciute; Franco/Airapetian

Flight B-Bordeleau/Damaschin

Remembering Past W&M Invitationals

At last year’s 14th annual William & Mary Invitational, senior Audrey Bordeleau captured the consolation title in Flight B singles action with a win over Virginia’s Amanda Rales, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0, (10-6).

During the 2005-2006 season at the Williams & Mary Invitational, juniors Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder stole the show for the Lady Razorbacks. Miseviciute won the Flight A singles title by defeating Jenna Long of North Carolina, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3. Kaluder captured the Flight E singles title by beating Katja Kovacoc of Texas Tech, 6-2, 6-1. Then, the two teamed up to win the Flight A doubles title by defeating Duke’s Melissa Mang and Jessi Robinson, 8-4.