Razorbacks Take Momentum Into SEC Play
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 17 Arkansas will get a chance to improve on its new national ranking when it opens Southeastern Conference play at home against Missouri on Friday at 6 p.m.
Matchup: No. 17 Arkansas (9-2) vs. Missouri (9-2)
Date: Friday, March 3
First Serve: 6 p.m.
Location: Fayetteville, Ark. (Billingsley Tennis Center)
Live Stats: Click Here
Quotable
“It’s always great to open conference play at home,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “We plan to build on our positive momentum that we’ve had throughout February.”
Five Key Storylines
• The Razorbacks are 6-3 all-time against Missouri. A dominant singles effort powered Arkansas to a victory over the Tigers last season in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers took the doubles point, but the Razorbacks rallied for four consecutive singles wins in straight sets to earn the 4-1 overall victory.
• Arkansas is aiming for its seventh straight victory. The Razorbacks posted a 6-0 record during February, which included wins over Oklahoma, now No. 15 Kansas, Purdue, Wichita State, Cornell and Illinois.
• The Razorbacks climbed 10 spots to No. 17 in the latest edition of the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis National Team Rankings released Tuesday. It’s the program’s highest team ranking since checking in at No. 17 on April 5, 2011. Arkansas is one of nine SEC teams ranked among the top 25 teams. Joining the Razorbacks in the top 25 are No. 1 Florida, No. 6 Auburn, No. 12 Tennessee, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 18 Georgia, No. 19 South Carolina, No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 24 Ole Miss.
• Arkansas enters Friday’s match with a 9-2 overall record. It marks the program’s best non-conference winning percentage heading into conference play since 2011 when it went 11-2 (.846).
• Two Razorbacks are ranked nationally in singles. No. 63 senior co-captain Shannon Hudson owns a 7-2 record in dual matches, while No. 88 sophomore Ana Oparenovic is 4-2. Freshman Natsuho Arakawa and junior Léolia Jeanjean have each posted a team-best 8-1 singles record. Junior Mia Jurasic is riding a three-match win streak and holds a 6-2 singles mark. In doubles, Hudson and freshman Giulia Parione are a team-best 5-0. Pairone also is 5-0 in singles.
Up Next
The Razorbacks will play host to LSU on March 10 at 6 p.m., and No. 20 Texas A&M on March 12 at 1 p.m.
For more information on Arkansas Women’s Tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
