Hogs shine in day one of SEC Coaches' Classic

AUBURN, Ala. — The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team kicked off their fall season today at the SEC Coaches’ Classic in Auburn, Ala. and gained wins in six of eight singles matches. Leading the way was senior Anouk Tigu and junior Kate Lukomskaya, who both won their matches in straight sets after being ranked in the very first ITA singles poll of the fall season. Tigu opened the tournament ranked number 18 and Lukomskaya opened ranked number 76 in the nation.

“This was as good a first day as we have ever had at this elite event,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “Plenty of high points today and to win six out of eight singles matches against SEC opponents gives us plenty to build on as we prepare for tomorrow.”

The strong singles play from the Razorbacks did not stop with their top two players. Sophomore Claudine Paulson won her match in shutout style over Vivian Pietrarola of Mississippi State, 6-0, 6-0. Also, sophomore Kelsey Sundaram got her second season as a Hog off to a strong start as well, winning in three sets over Abby Guthrie of Ole Miss, 6-2, 4-6, 6-0.

The newest Hog on the roster, freshman Jade Frampton, seemed right at home on the courts with a straight set victory against Gabby Rangel of Ole Miss, while sophomore Valentina Starkova rounded out the sixth Razorback victory of the day with her win over Ebie Wilson of LSU, 6-3, 6-2.

In doubles play, all four Razorback teams notched at least one victory in the day’s matches. The team of Sundaram and Frampton won both of their matches to advance to the final match of their respective flight. In their first match, the Hog tandem defeated Kentucky’s Caitlin McGraw and Marni Venter, 8-6, and then took care of the team of Madeleine Saari-Bystrom and Miljana Jocic from South Carolina, 8-5.

Day two of the SEC Coaches’ Classic continues tomorrow at the Yarbrough Tennis Center on the Auburn campus. The final doubles matches will be played before the second round of singles matches.

For continuing coverage of the Razorback women’s tennis team throughout the fall and into the spring, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.Complete Doubles ResultsFlight 1#14 Nadja Gilchrist/Maho Kowase (UGA) def. #26 Anouk Tigu/Claudine Paulson (ARK) 8-5#26 Anouk Tigu/Claudine Paulson (ARK) def. Rosalia Alda/Brynn Boren (UT) 9-7Flight 3Antonia Foehse/Mary Anne Macfarlane (ALA) def. Kate Lukomskaya/Valentina Starkova (ARK) 8-3Kate Lukomskaya/Valentina Starkova (ARK) def. Mariia Ryzhova/Jordan Zachary (MSU) 8-1Flight 4Kelsey Sundaram/Jade Frampton (ARK) def. Caitlin McGraw/Marni Venter (UK) 8-6Kelsey Sundaram/Jade Frampton (ARK) def. Madeleine Saari-Bystrom (USC) 8-5Flight 5Stephanie Roy/Emily Carbone (ARK) def. Nicole Scates/Meredith Morrow (UK) 8-0Taylor Schreimann/Piamena Kurteva (AU) def. Stephanie Roy/Emily Carbone (ARK) 9-8Complete Singles ResultsFlight 1A#18 Anouk Tigu (ARK) def. #98 Joanna Mather (UF) 6-4, 6-3Flight 2AKelsey Sundaram (ARK) def. #112 Abby Guthrie (UM) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0Flight 2B#76 Kate Lukomskaya (ARK) def. Mariia Ryzhova (MSU) 6-3, 6-0Flight 3AAlina Jerjomina (UGA) def. Emily Carbone (ARK) 6-1, 6-4Flight 4AJade Frampton (ARK) def. Gabby Rangel (UM) 6-1, 6-2Flight 4BValentina Starkova (ARK) def. Ebie Wilson (LSU) 6-3, 6-2Dominika Kanakova (USC) def. Stephanie Roy (ARK) 7-6, 6-3Flight 5AClaudine Paulson (ARK) def. Vivian Pietrarola (MSU) 6-0, 6-0