Lady'Backs consistent on day three in Atlanta
Atlanta, Ga. – The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team continued strong singles play on the third day of competition at the SEC Fall Coaches Classic on Saturday.
The Lady Razorbacks were led on day three by senior Vlatka Jovanovic. Jovanovic, who fell in the Flight A quarterfinal round to Florida’s 93rd ranked Whitney Benik, came back after dropping the second set to advance to the Flight consolation match with a 6-4 2-6 7-5 win over Ole Miss’s Nina Koukhartchuk.
“It was great to see Vlatka back near her best today,” said Arkansas women’s tennis head coach Michael Hegarty. “She got a late start to the fall season due to injury and she is really picking up steam at the moment.”
In tomorrow’s consolation final, the Zagreb, Croatia native is set to face Florida’s Nina Suvak. Suvak is 6-2 in singles this fall.
In Flight C, freshman Rachel Wilhelm and sophomore Audrey Bordeleau’s runs to the finals match were stopped short after both Lady’Backs picked up victories in the quarterfinal round. Wilhelm defeated South Carolina’s Justine Walsh 6-4, 6-4 and Bordeleau won in three-set fashion against Mississippi State’s Daniela Juskova, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
"We are really looking to finish up strong on our last competitive day of the fall," said Hegarty. "It’s back to a conditioning phase starting Tuesday, so we need to take advantage of every match available Sunday.”
Seven of eight Lady’Backs in Atlanta are slated to compete in the final day of the 2005 fall season tomorrow. For more information, please visit LADYBACKS.COM.
Tennis Results:
SEC Fall Coaches Classic
Saturday, November 5, 2005
Atlanta, Ga.
Flight A
Quarterfinal Round
No. 93 Whitney Benik (Florida) def No. 53 Vlatka Jovanovic (Arkansas) 6-2, 6-1
Daria Ivanov (Georgia) def. Maryori Franco (Arkansas) 6-2, 6-2
Consolation
No. 53 Vlatka Jovanovic (Arkansas) def. Nina Koukhartchuk (Ole Miss) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
Flight C
Quarterfinal
Audrey Bordeleau (Arkansas) def. Daniela Juskova (Miss. St.) 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Rachel Wilhelm (Arkansas) def. Justine Walsh (South Carolina) 6-4, 6-4
Tori Almango (Alabama) def. Melissa Cornett (Arkansas) by default
Semifinal
Grace Blakely (South Carolina) def. Audrey Bordeleau (Arkansas) 7-5, 6-0
Melissa Day (Alabama) def. Rachel Wilhelm (Arkansas) 6-4, 6-2
Flight D
Consolation
Lindsey Brown (Arkansas) def. Claire Connerly (Ole Miss) by default
Erin Gray (Auburn) def. Allison Linden (Arkansas) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
Tori Almango/Whitney Chappell (Auburn) def. Audrey Bordeleau/Vlatka Jovanovic (Arkansas) 8-6
Mary Ellen Henry/Sarah Sabin (Ole Miss) def. Lindsey Brown/Allison Linden (Arkansas) 8-6
Caroline Ferrell/Courtney Ulery (Vanderbilt) def. Melissa Cornett/Rachel Wilhelm (Arkansas) 8-5
Anastasia Kugakolova/Elna de Velliers (Miss. St.) def. Karina Ledaja/Maryori Franco (Arkansas) 8-4
