Lady'Backs win at home against Kansas 4-3
FAYETTEVILLE – After dropping their first doubles point all season, the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team came back to beat the Kansas Jayhawks, 4-3,at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center Saturday afternoon with the help of senior Vlatka Jovanovic’s epic third set win on court two.
With the match tied at 3-3, all eyes turned to court two where Jovanovic controlled a one set lead over KU’s Elizaveta Avdeeva. The second set was a back-and-forth battle all the way into its tiebreaker, with Avdeeva taking control to win the set, 7-6(4).
In the dual match deciding third set, it seemed only fitting that it go to a tiebreaker. Jovanovic exploded into the tiebreaker, winning the first six points to break. The oldest member of the Lady Razorback tennis team won the match five points later.
"Vlatka has the heart of a champion," Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said. "I don’t think I have ever seen a tougher performance than this one today. She willed her team to victory today."
Freshman Aurelija Miseviciute got Arkansas rolling with a 6-1, 6-1 win over KU’s Ksenia Bukina on court one. With the win, Miseviciute improves to 5-0 this spring and 18-1 in her young career. Moreover, four of the Klaipeda, Lithuania native’s, wins have come on center court.
The Lady’Backs took the lead moments later after a 6-0, 6-2 win on court four by sophomore Maryori Franco. Franco hit numerous winners down the line over KU’s Lauren Hommell to give herself the edge and her third win of the spring.
With Arkansas leading and four courts still undecided, it was unclear as to where the next Arkansas would come from.
The Jayhawks tied the score 2-2 after KU’s Christine Skoda came from behind in the second set to narrowly defeat Arkansas senior Karina Ledaja, 6-2, 6-4 in a match that was closer than its score indicated. Kansas took the lead with a win on court six.
Down 2-3, the Lady’Backs had to win both of the remaining matches on court to win the match. Sophomore Audrey Bordeleau came back after dropping the second set to KU’s Yuliana Svistun. Bordeleau tied the match at three wins apiece with a third set win on court five over KU’s Yuliana Svistun, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
The Lady’Backs are back at home on March 11 against Vanderbilt. For more information on Arkansas tennis or any other Lady’Back sport, please visit LADYBACKS.COM.
Tennis Match Results:
February 25, 2006
Dills Indoor Tennis Center
Fayetteville, AR
Arkansas 4, Kansas 3
Singles:
Aurelija Miseviciute (AR) def. Ksenia Bukina (KU) 6-1, 6-1
Vlatka Jovanovic (AR) def. Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU) 7-6(8), 6-7(4), 7-6(4)
Christine Skoda (KU) def. Karina Ledaja (AR) 6-2, 6-4
Maryori Franco (AR) def. Lauren Hommell (KU) 6-0, 6-2
Audrey Bordeleau (AR) def. Yuliana Svistun (KU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Edina
Horvath (KU) def. Melissa Cornett 6-2, 7-5
Doubles:
Aurelija Miseivicute/Ela Kaluder (AR) def. Ksenia Bukina/Elizaveta Avdeeva (KU) 8-6
Edina
Horvath/Lauren Hommell (KU) def. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (AR) 8-4
Christine Skoda/Brittany Brown (KU) def. Melissa Cornett/Rachel Wilhelm (AR) 8-5
