Lady'Backs open strong in singles with a late boost in doubles

Oxford, Miss. – The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team opened the 2005 fall season winning nine of 10 singles matches at the Lady Rebel Invitational and William and Mary Classic Friday followed by three late wins in doubles at Oxford. At Ole Miss, the Lady Razorbacks collected singles wins that allowed five Lady’Back players to advance to second round action. Seeded fourth in the red singles bracket, sophomore Maryori Franco defeated Ole Miss’ Virginia Tomatis in three-set fashion. Franco coasted in the first set, 6-2, but got beat in the second by the same score. In the final set, she edged Tomatis, 7-5. The win over Tomatis avenges Franco’s 2-6, 6-1, 0-1(8) loss to her Lady Rebel foe in the Fayetteville dual last spring. “I am really pleased with Maryori’s performance today,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “She gutted that match out and has really come along this fall.” Playing as a two seed in the blue bracket, senior Melissa Cornett won in straight sets over Southern Mississippi’s Grace Kammerer, 6-4, 7-5. Continuing from last season, Cornett has won four straight matches. Sophomore Audrey Bordeleau, a two-seed in the white bracket, picked up a win over Troy State’s Susanne Jones, 6-1, 7-5. Freshman Rachel Wilhelm won her first collegiate match in the white flight. She held Louisiana-Monroe’s Pauline Bourdet to just five won games in the 6-3, 6-2 victory. Sophomore Allison Linden won her first match of the year with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jacksonville State’s Alexandra Georgakopoulos. After a rocky start in doubles early in the day at Oxford, the Lady’Backs put together three strong matches late to even their doubles records at 1-1. Franco and Bordeleau cruised to an 8-2 win over Samford’s Sarah McKey and Emily White while Cornett and Wilhelm punched an 8-3 win over Jacksonville State’s Babette Lombardo and Layla Abbey. Brown and Linden won by the same score over JSU’s Eloah Lopes and Andrianna Borda. Meanwhile in Williamsburg, Va., freshmen Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder had a field day, both cruising through rounds one and two in straight sets. In Miseviciute’s second round match, she defeated the 112th ranked player in the country, Penn’s Yulia Rivelis, 6-1, 6-0. Miseviciute almost downed her second ranked opponent of the day on the doubles court with the help of Kaluder later that day. The freshmen pair lost, 8-6, to No. 16 Sara Anundsen and Jenna Long of North Carolina. “Across the board we showed a lot of energy today,” said Hegarty. “It was a solid start to the season and it’s important to have an even stronger second day in these tournaments.” The Lady’Backs continue action in both tournaments tomorrow and Sunday. For more information, please visit www.LADYBACKS.comResults – Friday, September 16, 2005William and Mary ClassicWilliamsburg, Va. Singles Flight A-First RoundAurelija Miseviciute, ARK def. Parnela Duran, RICH 6-3, 6-2-Second RoundAurelija Miseviciute, ARK def. #112 Yulia Rivelis, PENN 6-1, 6-0Singles Flight E-First RoundEla Kaluder, ARK def. Patricia Coimbra, WIN 6-2, 6-1-Second RoundEla Kaluder, ARK def. Ashley Vosters, Richmond 6-2, 6-1Doubles Flight A#16 Sara Anundsen/ Jenna Long, UNC def. Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder 8-6Lady Rebel InvitationalOxford, Miss. Red SinglesMaryori Franco, ARK def. Virginia Tomatis, OM 6-2, 2-6, 7-5Blue SinglesMelissa Cornett, ARK def. Grace Kammerer, USM 6-4, 7-5White SinglesAudrey Bordeleau, ARK def. Susanne Jones, TROY 6-1, 7-5Rachel Wilhelm, ARK def. Pauline Bourdet, ULM 6-3, 6-2Silver SinglesAllison Linden, ARK def. Alexandra Georgakopoulos, JSU 6-2, 6-3Tatiana Feit, MSU def. Lindsey Brown, ARK 7-5, 6-2Red DoublesFirst RoundKlara Jarova/Dijana Stanic, USA def. Mryori Franco/Audrey Bordeleau (4), ARK 8-5Consolation Maryori Franco/Audrey Bordeleau def. Sarah McKey/Emily White, SAM 8-2Blue DoublesFirst RoundKay Ngiam/Margot Carter, TTU def. Rachel Wilhem/Melissa Cornett, ARK 9-8(4) Daniela Juskova/Banikova, MSU def. Lindsey Brown/Allison Linden, ARK 8-5ConsolationRachel Wilhelm/Melissa Cornett, ARK def. Babette Lombardo/Layla Abbey, JSU 8-3Lindsey Brown/Allison Linden, ARK def. Eloah Lopes/Andrianna Borda, JSU 8-3