Razorbacks Surge Into Quarterfinals
MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time since 2009, the Arkansas women’s tennis team will have two singles players and a doubles team competing in the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA Central Regional Championships.
Arkansas posted several strong showings for the third straight day, turning in a 7-2 combined record in singles and doubles play Saturday at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus. The Razorbacks improved to 18-3 overall in the tournament.
“Today was definitely our best day at regionals since 2009,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “All four ladies battled extremely well, and we are excited for the positive momentum that this much-improved group continues to build.”
Senior co-captain Shannon Hudson and sophomore Ana Oparenovic will represent Arkansas in the singles quarterfinals, while the duo of Oparenovic and junior Mia Jurasic is set to represent the Razorbacks in the doubles quarterfinals. Both singles and doubles quarterfinals are slated for Sunday.
In doubles, Razorbacks Jurasic and Oparenovic pulled off an 8-7 (5) victory over Kansas State’s Iva Bago and Livia Cirnu in the round of 32 before downing Kansas State’s Caroline Costamagna and Palma Juhasz 8-2 in the round of 16. The Arkansas tandem is set to play Missouri’s Amina Ismail and Beatriz Machado Santos on Sunday at 9 a.m.
Razorbacks freshman Natsuho Arakawa and Hudson blanked Nebraska’s Elizabeth Gould and Sydney Harlow 8-0 in the round of 32. However, Tulsa’s Rongrong Leenabanchong and Martha Matoula held off the Arkansas pair 8-6 in the round of 16.
In singles, Hudson bested Tulsa’s Leenabanchong 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 in the round of 16 and will play Oklahoma State’s Carla Tur Mari Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Oparenovic dispatched Oklahoma State’s Sofia Blanco 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 and is set to face Oklahoma’s Lily Miyazaki Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
In consolation play, Arakawa eased past Kansas State’s Bago 6-1, 6-3, while Jurasic picked up a 6-4, 6-2 win over Minnesota’s Tina Kreinis.
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