No. 18 Razorbacks Rout No. 17 Texas A&M

Box Score (PDF)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 18 Arkansas continued its dominance in doubles and used strong singles play to roll past No. 17 Texas A&M 6-1 on Sunday at George M. Billingsley Tennis Center.

The Razorbacks (12-2, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) earned the doubles point for the ninth straight match and 12th time overall this season, and picked up consecutive singles victories at the No. 3, 6 and 1 positions to clinch the match at 4-0. After the clinch, Arkansas went on to win two of three remaining matches.

“What a great overall performance today and throughout the weekend,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “Obviously our doubles is providing a great catalyst to the rest of the match, and I’m excited for our team.”

The victory extended the Razorbacks’ win streak to nine matches, and it marked their second straight over the Aggies (8-6, 0-4 SEC). Arkansas is off to its best start since 2011 when it opened the season with a 12-2 record and 2-1 mark in SEC play.

Junior Mia Jurasic and sophomore Ana Oparenovic struck first in doubles, winning 6-4 at No. 2. Junior Léolia Jeanjean and freshman Natsuho Arakawa finished the job with a 7-5 victory at No. 3.

Arkansas carried its solid play into singles, where it grabbed four first sets and eventually won five of six matches.

Jeanjean was first off the court as she eased past her opponent 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 to extend Arkansas’ lead to 2-0. Arakawa also made quick work with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6. Jeanjean bettered her dual-match record to a team-best 11-1, while Arakawa improved to 10-2.

Senior co-captain No. 64 Shannon Hudson delivered the clinch with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 44 Rachel Pierson at No. 1. Hudson improved to 15-4 overall with a 10-2 record in dual matches, 3-0 mark in SEC play and 4-1 ledger against nationally ranked opponents. All of her victories this season have come at the top spot.

After the clinch, the Aggies earned their lone win at No. 5 as Tina Bokhua beat Arkansas freshman Giulia Pairone 6-3, 6-3. Pairone entered Sunday’s match with a 7-0 singles record in dual matches.

Jurasic scored a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 4, before No. 118 Oparenovic defeated Texas A&M’s No. 85 Rutuja Bhosale 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (12-10) at No. 2 to close out the overall match at 6-1.

Up Next
Arkansas will head to Mississippi to face No. 23 Ole Miss at 1 p.m. on March 17 in Oxford and Mississippi State at 1 p.m. on March 19 in Starkville.

For more information on Arkansas Women’s Tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.