First road match-up this weekend

FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 17 ranked University of Arkansas women’s tennis team will be taking to the road this weekend for their first away match of the spring season as they take on No. 35 Tulsa at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center on Saturday. Arkansas (5-1) comes into this match after winning their first five of six matches to open the season, including a doubleheader sweep last weekend against Louisiana-Lafayette and Utah. Tulsa (6-2) is coming off the heels of their second straight loss of the spring against SMU.

“We definitely took another step forward this past weekend, playing Louisiana-Lafayette and Utah here at home,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “We really wanted to work on some things throughout those matches leading up to this match with Tulsa and I think we achieved that.”

Even though Arkansas holds a solid 20-2 all-time record against Tulsa, the match this weekend will truly be a test for the Hogs as they will be facing the doubles team of Anastasia Erofeeva and Ewa Szatkozska. That team has won 10 straight matches leading up to Saturday’s match. However, the Razorbacks will be sending in three solid doubles teams that hold a 15-3 record in doubles this spring.

“Tulsa seems to have the best team they’ve ever had,” said Hegarty. “I think they’re poised to make a big jump up from their No. 35 ranking. I think they are more like a top 20 ranking.”

Last season, the Hogs defeated Tulsa in Fayetteville, 6-1, with then-freshman Emily Carbone and sophomore Anouk Tigu able to win their singles matches in straight sets.

First serve for Saturday’s match will be at 1 p.m. at the Case Tennis Center. Complete results of the match will be posted on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.