No. 58 @RazorbackWTEN Outlasts No. 24 Oklahoma, 4-3

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s tennis team extended its winning streak to five matches following a down-to-the-wire comeback victory over the Oklahoma Sooners at the Billingsley Tennis Center Sunday afternoon. The deciding match point came on court three – where junior Makenzie Craft pulled out the straight-sets win – to give the No. 58 Razorbacks a 4-3 win over the No. 24 Sooners.

Arkansas improves to 5-1 this season. When Arkansas faces Oklahoma, the two teams have a knack for playing tough matches as three of the last five meetings between the teams have been decided by a 4-3 score.

“Definitely the key to the victory today was our ability to come back strong after losing the doubles point,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “Getting four first sets in singles was huge and carried the momentum for us. Credit to the whole team for a great spirit out there today.”

To start the match, Arkansas lost the doubles point for only the second time this season, dropping matches on courts two and three.

The Razorbacks bounced right back, however, showing their resiliency in singles play by winning four first sets. Sophomore Shannon Hudson upped her dual record to a perfect 4-0 following a 6-3, 6-0 win on court two over Simran Sethi. Hudson’s win put the Razorbacks on the board after junior Yang Pang lost her match on the top court.

Oklahoma won the match on court six, extending its match lead to 3-1. Arkansas would need wins on courts three, four and five to complete the comeback and all three courts were able to deliver.

Sophomore Oleksandra Shkorupeieva moved her dual record to 5-1 after she defeated OU’s Christina Brigante in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5 on court five.

Junior Yuliya Lysa knotted the match score up at 3-3 as she won over Zita Engbroks, 6-3, 7-5 on court four. Lysa remains unbeaten this season in singles at 5-0.

The deciding match point would come down to Craft against Morgan Chumney on court three. Craft had already taken the first set, 7-5, and was able to put away Chumney in a close second set, 7-5.

The Razorbacks are back in action at home Friday, Jan. 30, to play Old Dominion. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Billingsley Tennis Center and admission is free. Arkansas will also hit the road next weekend for the first time this spring, traveling to No. 19 Oklahoma State on Sunday, Feb. 1.
RESULTS – NO. 58 ARKANSAS 4, NO. 24 OKLAHOMA 3
Doubles:
1) Yuliya Lysa/Shannon Hudson (UA) vs. Emma Devine/Morgan Chumney (OU) 5-6, unf.
2) Lily Miyazaki/Simran Sethi (OU) def. Nastassia Rubel/Makenzie Craft (UA) 6-3
3) Zita Engbroks/Christina Brigante (OU) def. Sasha Shkorupeieva/Yang Pang (UA) 6-4

Singles:
1) Lily Miyazaki (OU) def. Yang Pang (UA) 6-1, 6-1
2) Shannon Hudson (UA) def. Simran Sethi (OU) 6-3, 6-0
3) Makenzie Craft (UA) def. Morgan Chumney (OU) 7-5, 7-5
4) Yuliya Lysa (UA) def. Zita Engbroks (OU) 6-3, 7-5
5) Sasha Shkorupeieva (UA) def. Christina Brigante (OU) 6-1, 7-5
6) Malene Stripp (OU) def. Mia Jurasic (UA) 6-3, 6-4

For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.