Razorbacks open strong in Colorado
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Five Arkansas players won singles matches on the opening day of competition Friday at the Colorado Tennis Invitational in Boulder, Colo. Anouk Tigu, Kate Lukomskaya and Emily Carbone advanced to the quarterfinals of the Gold flight.
Three doubles tandems will also compete in Saturday’s quarterfinal action after picking up victories in the opening round of 16.
“Overall the team fought hard on Day One and had a solid performance,” Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said. “With some small corrections, I expect Day Two to be even better for us.”
Tigu defeated Louisiana Lafayette’s Milou Isreal in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 to lead the Gold flight. Lukomskaya beat Laura Neal of Colorado State 6-3, 6-0 while Carbone topped Colorado’s Ania Anuszkiewicz 6-0, 6-3. Valentina Starkova fell in her opening-round match against CU’s Camila Belassi 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Fellow freshman Kelsey Sundaram also lost to Julie Mazinova of Louisiana-Lafayette 6-3, 6-3, as did Claudine Paulson to Melisa Esposito from Colorado 6-4, 6-4.
In the Black flight, freshman Annemijn Koenen won her first collegiate match 6-2, 6-2 over Air Force’s Erin Cunley. Adriana Nieto continued her strong play from last weekend, defeating Lindsey Mueller of Air Force 6-2, 6-0. Lindsey Gray dropped a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision to another Falcon, Erlyn Rudico.
In doubles action, Starkova and Carbone combined to beat the Air Force duo of Cunley and Mueller 8-0 while Sundaram and Lukomskaya defeated Lauren Neal and Tori Arneson of Colorado State 8-4. Tigu and Paulson were awarded a bye into the quarterfinals. Koenen and Nieto fell in their match 8-3 to Lousiana Lafayette’s Isreal and Tara Vasovic.
Action continues on Saturday at the South Campus Courts beginning with singles play at 10 a.m. Central time.
Gold Singles Draw 1Anouk Tigu (ARK) def. Israel Milou (ULL) 6-1, 6-0Kate Lukomskaya (ARK) def. Laura Neal (CSU) 6-3, 6-0Emily Carbone (ARK) def. Ania Anuszkiewicz (CU) 6-0, 6-3Camila Belassi (CU) def. Valentina Starkova (ARK) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4Melisa Esposito (CU) def. Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-4, 6-3Julie Mazinova (ULL) def. Kelsey Sundaram (ARK) 6-3, 6-3Black Singles Draw 1Adriana Nieto (ARK) def. Lindsey Mueller (AFA) 6-2, 6-0Annemijn Koenen (ARK) def. Erin Cunley (AFA) 6-2, 6-2Erlyn Rudico (AFA) def. Lindsey Gray (ARK) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3Silver Doubles Draw 1Carbone/Starkova (ARK) def. Cunley/Mueller (AFA) 8-0Lukomskaya/Sundaram (ARK) def. Neal/Arneson (CSU) 8-4Israel/Vasovic (ULL) def. Koenen/Nieto (ARK) 8-3
