Kaluder to face top seed at W&M event
FAYETTEVILLE – Ela Kaluder led the way for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team as the junior advanced to the semifinal round of the top singles flight at the 14th annual William and Mary Women’s Tennis Invitational.
Kaluder defeated Marshall’s Kellie Schmitt in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round, and faces the top seed of the A flight, 10th-ranked Megan Moulton-Levy of William & Mary on Saturday morning.
The come-from-behind effort with Schmitt gives Kaluder a five-match win streak in Williamsburg, dating back to last year’s flight victory at the same event.
"This was a big win for Ela," UA head coach Michael Hegarty said. "She toughed out a good win after a slow start."
She also gave Arkansas an opening round doubles victory, paired with Audrey Bordeleau to defeat Virginia’s team of Caroline Hammond and Amanda Rales, 8-4.
"Overall, this was a good start for us against some quality competition," Hegarty said. "We’re looking forward to the weekend matches."
Today’s action also features the singles debut for Moldovian freshman Stacia Cozirscaia. Cozirscaia advanced with a bye in the opening round of flight E to face Boston College’s Lindsey Nash in the semifinals.
Bordeleau dropped her opening match in the flight B singles to Boston College’s Lana Krasnopolsky, 7-6, 6-4.
Rachel Wilhelm lost to W&M Magdalena Bresson in her flight C opening match, 6-3, 6-1, and faces Marshall’s Thaddea Lock in the semifinals of the consolation bracket. Wilhelm and Cozirscaia lost 8-6 to Virginia’s Jessica Preeg and Austin Hansen in the flight C doubles.
At the Ole Miss Invitational, Arkansas’ Mayori Franco won her opening match against North Florida’s Vanessa Sanchez 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, at Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center.
The Lady’Backs’ Carley Dixon had a split, defeating Natalia Parrado of Southern Miss, 6-0, 6-1, before falling to sophomore Angela Dangond of Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-4, 6-4. Melissa Hoffmeister fell in her opening match to Pooja Kommireddi of Middle Tennessee, 6-3, 6-3.
