Franco takes one at Riviera All-American
LOS ANGELES- No. 113-ranked sophomore Maryori Franco garnered her fourth singles win of the fall for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team during pre-qualifying action at the Riviera All-American Championship in Los Angeles, Calif this weekend.
The Barranquilla, Colombia native defeated Iowa’s Hilary Mintz in straight-set, 6-4, 6-2, fashion to advance to the next round. In that match, Franco lost a close second set to fall to Georgia Tech’s Lyndey Shosho, 6-3, 7-5.
Senior Karina Ledaja was also in action this weekend for the Lady Razorbacks. In first round action, she fell to Wake Forest’s Christian Tara in three sets after battling to win a second set tiebreaker, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.
In the doubles bracket, Franco and Ledaja paired together for the sixth time to defend their 5-0 record as a pair against San Diego’s Liz Brown and Helene Lindstrand. Franco and Ledaja won that match, 8-5, but fell in the following round in a tiebreaker against Georgia Tech’s Kelly Anderson and Christy Striplin, 9-8 (8-6).
No. 52-ranked senior Vlatka Jovanovic is the only Lady’Back remaining in the tournament. She begins play in the main qualifying bracket on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 9:00 a.m. against Arizona State’s Sabrina Capannolo.
“The results from this weekend were extremely encouraging,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “It would be nice to see similar results from Vlatka [Jovanovic] on Tuesday.”
As a team, the Lady’Backs travel to the USTA Collegiate Classic in New York City, Oct. 8-10.
For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit LADYBACKS.com
TennisResults
Riviera All-American Championships
Los Angeles, Calif.
September 29, 2005
Singles
First Round
Maryori Franco, ARK def. Hilary Mintz, IOWA, 6-4, 6-2
Christian Tara, WF def. Karina Ledaja, ARK, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1
Second Round
Lyndsey Shosho, GTECH def. Maryori Franco, ARK 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
First Round
Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja, ARK def. Liz Brown/Helene Lindstrand, SD, 8-5
Second Round
Kelly Anderson/Christy Striplin, GTECH, def. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja, ARK, 9-8 (8-6)
