Hogs drop SEC opener to Gators

GAINESVILLE, FLA. — The No. 15 University of Arkansas women’s tennis team had a tough match on their hands Friday, as they dropped their SEC opener, 7-0, to No. 6 Florida (10-2, 1-0) at Linder Stadium at the Ring Tennis Complex. Arkansas (10-3, 0-1) was riding a four match winning streak heading into the match, but just couldn’t get any momentum throughout the day, which led to the shutout.

Beginning the day in doubles, the Gators got off to a fast start, taking the No. 2 doubles court, 8-1, after getting a great performance by the No. 34 doubles team of Lauren Embree and Anastasia Revzina over sophomore Stephanie Roy and freshman Valentina Starkova.

In the match between the two high ranked doubles teams at the No. 1 spot, the team of Florida’s Marrit Boonstra and Allie Will showed why they are the No. 6 doubles team in the nation, defeating junior Anouk Tigu and freshman Claudine Paulson, 8-1. With the win at No. 1, the Gators clinched the doubles point going into singles play.

Singles play did not go much better for the Razorbacks as they were quickly defeated at Nos. 5 and 6, to fall into a 3-0 hole and leave Florida just one point away from clinching the match.

The clinching match was won at the No. 3 singles spot after No. 62-ranked Boonstra defeated Roy in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Each singles match of the day was won by the Gators in straight sets, but the Razorbacks did show a little bit of heart in the final match of the day after sophomore Emily Carbone took the second set against No. 11-ranked Will to a tiebreaker. She did, however, end up dropping that match, 7-6 (4).

The Hogs have a quick turnaround for their next SEC match as they travel to Columbia, South Carolina to take on the No. 58 Gamecocks on Sunday. Last season, the Razorbacks lost their match with South Carolina on their home courts by a score of 5-2 and will be looking to avenge that loss. First serve for the match is set for 1 p.m. For a complete recap and results, be sure to log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com. No. 15 Arkansas at No. 6 FloridaLinder Stadium at Ring Tennis ComplexGainesville, Fla.Final Score: Florida 7, Arkansas 0SinglesNo. 1 (15) Lauren Embree (UF) d. (54) Anouk Tigu (ARK), 6-4, 6-0No. 2 (11) Allie Will (UF) d. Emily Carbone (ARK), 6-0 7-6 (4)No. 3 (62) Marrit Boonstra (UF) d. Stephanie Roy (ARK), 6-2, 6-2*No. 4 (105) Anastasia Revzina (UF) d. Claudine Paulson (ARK), 6-4, 7-5No. 5 Claire Bartlett (UF) d. Valentina Starkova (ARK), 6-0, 6-2No. 6 Joanna Mather (UF) d. Fernanda Perrotta (ARK), 6-2, 6-3DoublesNo. 1 (6) Marrit Boonstra/Allie Will (UF) d. (18) ClaudinePaulson/Anouk Tigu (ARK), 8-1*No. 2 (34) Lauren Embree/Anastasia Revzina (UF) d. StephanieRoy/Valentina Starkova (ARK), 8-1No. 3 Emily Carbone/Fernanda Perrotta (ARK), d. ClaireBartlett/Caroline Hitimana (UF), UF led 5-3, defaultOrder of Finish: Doubles-2, 1*,3; Singles-6, 5, 3*, 1, 4, 2