Freshmen shine Florida wins

FAYETTEVILLE—On a picturesque Sunday afternoon, the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team saw the most shine from two freshmen despite the 7-0 loss to the second-ranked Florida Gators at the UA Varsity Courts. With the loss, the Lady’Backs slide to 10-2 overall while the No. 2 Gators continue their unbeaten streak at 6-0. The Gator lineup posted three ranked doubles squads and three ranked singles players, hinting as to why the visiting team has only lost one match since 2003. “We definitely had some positives out there today, but Florida is at a different level,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “There is no question they are going to compete for the national title this year.” After a lineup change just before singles, freshman Audrey Bordeleau was moved into the lineup on court six against Florida’s Lolita Frangulyn. The youngest member of the Lady’Back squad handled herself like a seasoned veteran once she stepped onto the court, breaking a four-game winning streak by Frangulyn to win the first set, 7-5. In the second set, Frangulyn got on a roll to quickly tie the score at one set apiece, 6-1. In the third set, Florida jumped out early to a 2-0 lead, but Bordeleau won three of the next four to even the score at 3-3. Frangulyn took the next three of four games to win the match, 6-4. Fellow freshman Yawna Allen fought valiently in her second straight match of the year on court four. Paired against sophomore Gator Nina Suvak, Allen played two close sets against the unbeaten Suvak in a 6-4, 6-3 loss. In doubles, juniors Vlatka Jovanovic and Melissa Cornett saw themselves paired up against the 14th ranked Florida doubles pair of Jennifer Magley and Zerene Reyes on court one. The Gator team jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Jovanovic and Cornett proved not to be outmatched as they broke Florida’s serve twice in a row to narrow the score, 5-7. In the 13th game of the pro set, the Lady’Backs jumped out to a 30-0 lead, but the serve of Magley gave the Gators just enough edge to finally seal the match, 8-5. Senior All-American Zerene Reyes sealed the match for the Gators with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Iliana Pacheco on court three. The Lady’Backs continue their four-match conference home stand next weekend against Tennessee on Friday, March 11, at 5:00 p.m. “We’ve got a great opportunity against Tennessee next week and we will be ready,” said Hegarty. For more information on Lady Razorback tennis or any other Lady’Back sport, please visit www.ladybacks.com.Tennis Match ResultsFlorida vs University of ArkansasMar 06, 2005 at Fayetteville, ArkansasFlorida 7, University of Arkansas 0Singles competition: 1. Jennifer Magley (UF) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 6-2, 6-12. Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Maryori Franco (UA) 6-3, 6-23. Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Iliana Pacheco (UA) 6-3, 6-0*4. Nina Suvak (UF) def. Yawna Allen (UA) 6-4, 6-35. Whitney Benick (UF) def. Melissa Cornett (UA) 6-1, 6-06. Lolita Frangulyn (UF) def. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4Doubles competition: 1. Zerene Reyes/Jennifer Magley (UF) def. Melissa Cornett/Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 8-52. Whitney Benick/Lolita Frangulyn (UF) def. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (UA) 8-23. Nina Suvak/Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Whitney Morton/Iliana Pacheco (UA) 8-1Notes: Attedance: 30Time: 3.5 hours* clinched match