Lady'Backs take doubles fall to South Carolina

FAYETTEVILLE– In a match that was closer than its 6-1 score, the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team fell in its opening Southeastern Conference match of the year to South Carolina Friday afternoon at the UA Varsity Courts. At one point in the match, it looked as if South Carolina’s 27-3 record against SEC Western Division schools since 2000 was in jeopardy as the Lady’Back took the doubles point and had firm grips on four singles matches. However, the loss gives the Lady Razorbacks their first loss of the 2005 season, 10-1, while South Carolina improves to 6-0 this spring. “I’m very encouraged with our performance today,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “Audrey, Yawna, Vlatka and Karina all had chances to win their matches today, which obviously was the difference.” The Lady’Backs set the tone for the match early by winning their seventh doubles point of the year. Arkansas rallied back after a South Carolina victory on court two with a win on court three by freshmen duo Yawna Allen and Audrey Bordeleau. The match was knotted at 3-3 when the Arkansas took charge and never looked back by opening a 6-4 lead over South Carolina’s Miranda Gutierrez and Christyn Lucas. Allen and Bordeleau improved to 5-3 as a pair and 2-2 against SEC opponents with the 8-5 win. Junior Karina Ledaja and freshman Maryori Franco sealed the doubles point for the Lady’Backs on court one with an 8-6 win over USC’s Laura Ganzer and Danielle Wiggins. Franco and Ledaja led by as much as four games at 5-1, but the Gamecocks would not go quietly as they won the next four of six games to narrow the Arkansas lead to 7-6. The Lady’Backs put the match away on a rocket serve by Franco that was returned into the net, 8-6. With the win, Ledaja and Franco improve to 7-2 together in 2005. In singles, of the six singles matches played, four courts were forced to a third set. A total of four tiebreakers were played in singles, with half of them coming on Bordeleau’s court. The Quebec City, Quebec native won the first set over USC’s Justine Walsh in a thrilling tiebreaker, 7-4, but had the next set stolen from her in a 6-7(5) defeat. In the 10-point tiebreaker, Bordeleau fell to a relentless Walsh, 1-0(10). Allen played line four for the first time in her career against South Carolina’s Gutierrez. With the Lady’Backs down 1-3, the weight of the match was put on the young freshman’s shoulders. Allen rallied back after losing the first set, 6-2, to win the second set, 7-5. In the dual match deciding third set, Allen played from behind until she tied the score at four games apiece. A back-and-forth battle ensued, forcing a tiebreaker. Gutierrez shot out to a 2-0 lead, but Allen fought back to even the score, 4-4. Gutierrez grinded out three of the next four points to win the match, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5). On line one, Vlatka Jovanovic lost the first set to Wiggins 7-6(3), but evened the score with a quick 6-3 second set win. In the super tiebreaker, Wiggins edged Jovanovic to win the match, 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(5). The Lady’Backs host one more home match this weekend as the second ranked Florida Gators come to town on Sunday for a 1:00 p.m. match. “I’m looking forward to a great opportunity against Florida on Sunday,” said Hegarty. Live scoring for the contest is available online under the stats section. For more information, please visit www.ladybacks.com.Tennis Match ResultsSouth Carolina vs University of ArkansasMar 04, 2005 at Fayetteville, ArkansasSouth Carolina 6, University of Arkansas 1Singles competition: 1. Danielle Wiggins (USC) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 7-6(3), 3-6, 1-0(5) 2. Christyn Lucas (USC) def. Maryori Franco (UA) 6-4, 6-43. Laura Ganzer (USC) def. Karina Ledaja (UA) 3-6, 6-0, 6-34. Miranda Gutierrez (USC) def. Yawna Allen (UA) 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5) 5. Magda Wojdylo (USC) def. Melissa Cornett (UA) 6-4, 6-16. Justine Walsh (USC) def. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 1-0(10) Doubles competition: 1. Karina Ledaja/Maryori Franco (UA) def. Laura Ganzer/Danielle Wiggins (USC) 8-62. Magda Wojdylo/Christyn Lucas (USC) def. Melissa Cornett/Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 8-33. Yawna Allen/Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Miranda Gutierrez/Fallon Koon (USC) 8-5Notes: Attendance: 30Time: 4.5 hours