Lady'Backs escape with win over Ragin' Cajuns with 4-3 win
FAYETTEVILLE – It took a surge in the last two singles courts for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team to seal a 4-3 victory on Wednesday afternoon over the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.
In their first home outdoor match all season, Arkansas improves to 7-6 overall this season. Although the Ragin’ Cajuns were not ranked in this week’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s national poll, Louisiana-Lafayette upset Ole Miss earlier this year and were a force to be reckoned with in Wednesday’s match.
“We expected a tough match today against [Louisiana-Lafayette] and that is exactly what we got,” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty, “. While, they gave us a tough match this afternoon, I think this match could be one we take with us the rest of the season.”
Arkansas came out of the gates firing in doubles as the Lady’Backs picked up wins on courts one and two. The Lady’Backs have won eight of nine doubles points against non-conference opponents this season. In the top two doubles courts this season, Arkansas is 10-15 overall.
In singles, sophomore Ela Kaluder was the first Lady’Back to collect a win with a 6-2, 6-1 pasting of UL-L’s Tammy Day. The win puts Kaluder at 12-1 this spring as she guards a top 30 ranking in singles.
From there, Louisiana-Lafayette took a brief lead by winning three straight matches on courts three, five and six. Arkansas would need wins on the last two courts to ensure a victory.
The first win came on court four by junior Audrey Bordeleau in a 6-1, 7-5 effort on court four over Angela Dangond. Bordeleau is now 7-6 in singles this season.
With the match score even at 3-3, the match came down to court two and junior Maryori Franco. Franco had enjoyed a one set lead over UL-L’s Myrthe Molenveld, but the Ragin’ Cajun even the match at one set apiece as Bordeleau’s match concluded. In the final set, Franco’s consistent play allowed her to capture the match in Arkansas’ favor with the 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win.
The Lady’Backs take the weekend off before traveling to Dallas, Texas for their final non-conference match of the season against Southern Methodist on March 21. From there, the Lady’Backs compete in seven straight Southeastern Conference dual matches before the SEC Tournament in mid-April.
For more information on Arkansas tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit LADYBACKS.COM.
Tennis Match Results
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Arkansas 4
Louisiana-Lafayette 3
Doubles:
1. Nanar Airapetian/Maryori Franco (UA) def. Tammy Day/Chanell Maijer (UL-L) 8-3
2. Ela Kaluder/Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Clemence Remy/Myrthe Molenveld (UL-L) 8-6
3. Laura Martelli/Angela Dangond (UL-L) def. Melissa Hoffmeister/Rachel Wilhelm (UA) 8-6
Singles:
1. Ela Kaluder (UA) def. Tammy Day (UL-L) 6-2, 6-1
2. Maryori Franco (UA) def. Myrthe Molenveld (UL-L) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3*
3. Chanell Meijer (UL-L) def. Nanar Airapetian (UA) 6-3, 6-3
4. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Angela Dangond (UL-L) 6-1, 7-5
5. Laura Martelli (UL-L) def. Rachel Wilhelm (UA) 6-3, 6-2
6. Clemence Remy (UL-L) def. Melissa Hoffmeister (UA) 6-4, 6-0
— LADY RAZORBACKS —
