Hoffmeister captures Billikans Classic title

ST. LOUIS – Freshman Melissa Hoffmeister captured the Class C draw at the 2006 Billikan Fall Classic in dramatic style with a pair of tie-breaker victories on the final day.

“This was really exciting for Melissa to open up her career with a title,” UA head coach Michael Hegarty said. “Our youngsters got a lot of match play.”

Hoffmeister rallied in both matches to give Arkansas one of two bracket wins at the St. Louis University hosted event.

Sophomore Rachel Wilhelm took the consolation title of the Class A draw with a pair of singles wins. Freshman Carly Dixon battled to a tiebreaker loss in the semifinals of Class B.

Hoffmeister won her bracket by battling off a second-set rally by Charlotte Bellis of Missouri. The Arkansas freshman took the opening set, 6-4, but lost the second, 4-6. In the tiebreaker, Hoffmeister closed out the win, 10-4.

It was Hoffmeister with the rally in the semifinals to reach her finals battle with Bellis. Hoffmeister struggled early, dropping her opening semifinal set to Racquel Wagner of Missouri, 3-6, before blitzing the Tiger in both the second and tiebreaker. Hoffmeister dominated the rest of the match, 6-1 for the second and 10-3 for the break.

In the top flight, Wilhelm defeated Katri Miller of Illinois State in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, then dispatched Veronique Parke-Dedard, also of ISU, 6-2, 6-3, for the consolation title.

Dixon pushed eventual B Draw champion Chrissy Svetlik of Missouri to the break before losing in the semifinals, 3-6, 6-1, (10-3).

Arkansas returns to the courts next weekend with a pair of tournaments.