Franco reaches both finals at ITA Central Regional

TULSA, Okla. – Mayori Franco made it a double final for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team, but a long tournament and back-to-back-to-back matches added up to a pair of runner-up finishes at the ITA Central Regional.

“Overall, this was a great tournament and a huge springboard toward the spring season,” UA head coach Michael Hegarty said. “This was the final competition of the fall for several players, and we head into the winter training with a lot of momentum and just one more event for the rest of the team.”

Franco earned a spot in the regional doubles finals with a semifinal win with her doubles partner Nanar Airapetian over Imke Reimers and Maria Ring of Nebraska, 8-3, to start the morning.

Reimers had her revenge after walking off the doubles court by defeating Franco for the singles tournament title, 6-1, 6-2.

“It was a disappointing finish for Mayori, but an overall a successful tournament,” Hegarty said. “It was great for her to reach finals, but we didn’t have the correct game plan in the championship match. The game plan hurt her chances but Reimers will represent the region well.”

In her third match of the morning, Franco lost in finals of the doubles to Edina Horvata and Eliziveta Adveeva of Kansas, 8-4.

Horvata and Adveeva defeated Ela Kaluder and Audrey Bordeleau, 8-1, in the other semifinal at the start of the day to prevent an all-Arkansas doubles final.

“It was a good finish for the fall for Kaluder and Bordeleau, and they had a great run to the semifinals,” Hegarty said.