Ledaja wins Lady Vols win more

FAYETTEVILLE– Karina Ledaja collected her first career Southeastern Conference win, but it was not enough to lift the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team over the University of Tennessee in a 6-1 loss Friday evening at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center. For a match that was decided in straight sets on all six singles courts, the Lady Razorbacks played everything close. Five singles sets were decided by two games or less, and two more by fewer than three. The loss drops the Lady’Backs to 10-3 and 0-3 in conference play, while Tennessee improves to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the SEC. “This was a really good match for us tonight,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “There were a lot of courts where we were in the thick of it. That is encouraging knowing that Tennessee has made it to the Sweet 16 for the last eight years in a row. At this point we are right on track.” The lone Lady’Back singles win came with power and confidence as Ledaja powered her way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory and first career SEC win. Ledaja owned the first set, preventing Tennessee’s Melissa Schaub from stealing back-to-back games in a 6-3 effort. In the second set, Schaub played a much closer game, evening the score four times before Ledaja broke free to win two straight games and the match, 6-3, 6-4. With the win, Ledaja improves to a team-leading 8-1 in the spring season and 1-1 in SEC matches. The win also marked her 21st career victory at Arkansas. “Karina’s spirit was the real difference on her court tonight,” said Hegarty. “She continues to make strides each day.” In doubles, the Lady’Backs began by winning the first game on all three courts, but things quickly soured as the Big Orange collected four games on each court to take a 4-1 lead. In the sixth game on court two, freshman Maryori Franco took control, using precisely placed groundstrokes to help win the next five games to take the lead, 6-5 over Tennessee’s Ashley Robards and Ghizela Schutte. Robards and Schutte interrupted Arkansas’ comeback to tie the score at six games apiece, but the Lady’Backs put the match away with huge overhead by Karina Ledaja, 8-6. The Lady’Backs regroup Saturday before hosting the third ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the UA Varsity Courts. Admission is free and online scoring is availible. For more information, please visit www.ladybacks.com.Tennis Match ResultsTennessee vs University of ArkansasMar 11, 2005 at Fayetteville, ArkansasTennessee 6, University of Arkansas 1Singles competition: 1. Sabita Maharaj (UT) def. Maryori Franco (UA) 6-2, 6-12. Blakely Griffith (UT) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 7-5, 6-13. Bryce Marable (UT) def. Iliana Pacheco (UA) 6-3, 6-24. Victoria Jones (UT) def. Yawna Allen (UA) 6-4, 6-45. Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Melissa Schaub (UT) 6-3, 6-46. Ghizela Schutte (UT) def. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 6-4, 6-1Doubles competition: 1. Sabita Maharaj/Melissa Schaub (UT) def. Melissa Cornett/Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 8-52. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Ashley Robards/Ghizela Schutte (UT) 8-63. Bryce Marable/Blakely Griffith (UT) def. Yawna Allen/Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 8-4Notes: Time: 3 hoursAttendance: 75