Lady'Backs edged on Senior Day

FAYETTEVILLE—It came down to the wire on Senior Day for Iliana Pacheco and the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team in a 4-3 loss to the Louisiana State University Tigers at the UA Varsity Courts on Saturday. “It will always be an honor to call myself a Lady’Back,” said senior Iliana Pacheco. “The team has grown by leaps and bounds this year and I can only see good things in the future for this program.” With the loss, the Lady Razorbacks finish the regular season 11-10 overall and 1-10 in Southeastern Conference play while LSU gathers their third conference win of the season as they improve to 11-10 for the year. It seemed as if the Lady’Backs were in control at the beginning of singles play despite a loss of the doubles advantage. Playing for the first time this year on court three, junior Melissa Cornett captured her third consecutive SEC win over LSU’s Staten Spencer. Spencer won the first set, but Cornett took charge in the second to win 7-5. Spencer retired early in the third set to give Cornett the win. “I think what really put me over the edge in the second was playing with a more aggressive style of play,” Cornett said. “That momentum carried over into the third to give me the edge.” Junior transfer Karina Ledaja took little time in disposing of LSU’s Lauren Seaman on court two. Ledaja’s 6-4, 6-4 win marks her fifth conference victory of the year and 25th overall this season. Vlatka Jovanovic cruised to a first set victory on center court over Amanda Mang, 6-3, but had a more difficult time throughout the second as Mang battled back to tie the set at 5-5. Jovanovic blanked Mang in the 11th game to take a 6-5 advantage and won the match shortly after, 7-5. “You have to give LSU credit,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “We fired everything we had at them, but it wasn’t quite enough. “We have a lot to play for at the SEC tournament and I feel like we are moving forward.” The Lady Razorbacks step into the Alabama Tennis Stadium on Wednesday, April 21, for first round action of the 2005 SEC tournament. The opponent is to be determined. Live scoring is available via www.ladybacks.com. For more information, please visit www.ladybacks.com.Tennis Match ResultsLSU vs University of ArkansasApr 16, 2005 at Fayetteville, ArkansasLSU 4, University of Arkansas 3Singles competition: 1. Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) def. Amanda Mang (LSU) 6-3, 7-52. Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Lauren Seaman (LSU) 6-4, 6-43. Melissa Cornett (UA) def. Staten Spencer (LSU) 3-6, 7-5, 1-1, ret. 4. Marina Chiarelli (LSU) def. Iliana Pacheco (UA) 6-2, 6-45. Tiffany Tucker (LSU) def. Maryori Franco (UA) 7-6, 7-66. Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 6-3, 6-4Doubles competition: 1. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Lauren Seaman/Tiffany Tucker (LSU) 8-62. Amanda Mang/Staten Spencer (LSU) def. Vlatka Jovanovic/Melissa Cornett (UA) 8-53. Marina Chiarelli/Camila Caliari (LSU) def. Audrey Bordeleau/Iliana Pacheco (UA) 8-3