Razorbacks Dominate Sooners
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In front of a raucous home crowd, the Arkansas women’s tennis team cruised to a 6-1 victory over Oklahoma on Sunday at Dills Indoor Tennis Center.
The win marked the second straight for Arkansas (4-2) against Oklahoma (1-1) and improved the Razorbacks’ all-time record against the Sooners to 18-14.
The Razorbacks used a dominant doubles performance coupled with an exciting singles showing that was highlighted by senior co-captain Shannon Hudson’s three-set victory over a top-10 nationally ranked opponent at the No. 1 singles spot.
“We’re very pleased to have such a complete performance across the board,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “The doubles particularly looked very strong.”
In doubles, the Razorbacks quickly collected a pair of 6-3 wins at the No. 1 and 2 spots. Arkansas’ tandem of Léolia Jeanjean and Hudson struck first, easing past Oklahoma’s 49th-ranked duo of Lily Miyazaki and Julie Byrne at the top spot. Razorbacks Ana Oparenovic and Mia Jurasic then secured the opening point, defeating Sooners Simran Sethi and Malene Stripp at No. 2.
Oklahoma gained early momentum in singles action, winning four first sets. But that didn’t stop the Razorbacks.
After the Sooners led off with a victory at No. 6, Jurasic, who never trailed in her match, rolled to a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 3, putting the Razorbacks ahead 2-1.
Arkansas freshman standout Natsuho Arakawa extended the Razorbacks’ lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 5. Arakawa trailed in both sets before battling back each time to earn wins. It marked her 11th straight singles victory dating back to the fall.
Meanwhile, Jeanjean was in the midst of a three-set affair at No. 4. After surrendering the first set, she responded with a 6-2 win in the second. Trailing 2-1 in the final frame, Jeanjean quickly took control and turned the deficit into a 6-2 win, clinching the overall team victory at 4-1.
With the outcome decided, play continued on the remaining two courts.
At the top spot, Hudson split the first two sets with Oklahoma’s 10th-ranked Miyazaki before emerging victorious in the third-set tiebreaker for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) win.
“What a great win for Shannon today,” Hegarty said. “She played a very smart match and most importantly, did it from a set and 3-0 behind in the second set.”
Within seconds, Oparenovic polished off the day with a three-set victory of her own at No. 2, winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will face the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas, on Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. CT.
