@RazorbackWTEN Falls To No. 3 Florida
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 44 Arkansas women’s tennis team dropped a home match for just the second time this season as the No. 3 Florida Gators defeated the Razorbacks, 7-0, at the Billingsley Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
With the loss the Razorbacks fall to 11-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play, while Florida improves to 12-1 on the season and 4-0 in SEC competition.
“Obviously the top of the lineup was extremely competitive today,” said head coach Michael Hegarty. “Yuliya has been coming along quickly and the match today at No. 1 was of a particularly high quality.”
UF got on the board first in doubles, as the duo of Spencer Liang and Belinda Woolcock won 8-4 at No. 2 and the No. 22-ranked tandem of Josie Kuhlman and Peggy Porter topped Flavia Araujo and Sasha Shkorupeieva on Court 3 to clinch the doubles point for Florida.
In singles action, the Gators won matches at No. 5 and No. 4 to take a 3-0 lead in the match. Mia Jurasic fell to No. 38 Kourtney Keegan 6-3, 6-0, while #32 Belinda Woolcock knocked off Sasha Shkorupeieva 6-3, 6-0.
After Flavia Araujo fell to Peggy Porter at No. 6 (6-4, 6-3), the Razorbacks’ top singles player, No. 117 Yuliya Lysa, played well and forced Florida’s No. 5-ranked Brooke Austin into three sets, but fell by the final of 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
The last two matches to finish on the afternoon were at No. 2 and No. 3. Shannon Hudson went down 6-2, 6-4 to Josie Kuhlman on court two and Makenzie Craft lost to Josie Kuhlman, the No. 6 ranked player in the nation, 6-2, 6-4 on court three.
Arkansas will return to action on Sunday, March 15, as the Razorbacks host No. 36 South Carolina at the Billingsley Tennis Center. The match is slated for an 11 a.m. CT start, with live stats being provided via ArkansasRazorbacks.com. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a Razorback Tennis visor.
#3 Florida 7, #44 Arkansas 0
March 13, 2015 at Fayetteville, Ark. | Billingsley Tennis Center
Singles competition
1. #5 Brooke Austin (UF) def. #117 Yuliya Lysa (ARKW) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
2. #6 Josie Kuhlman (UF) def. Shannon Hudson (ARKW) 6-2, 6-4
3. #20 Brianna Morgan (UF) def. Makenzie Craft (ARKW) 6-3, 6-3
4. #32 Belinda Woolcock (UF) def. Sasha Shkorupeieva (ARKW) 6-3, 6-0
5. #38 Kourtney Keegan (UF) def. Mia Jurasic (ARKW) 6-3, 6-0
6. #119 Peggy Porter (UF) def. Flavia Araujo (ARKW) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Shannon Hudson/Yuliya Lysa (ARKW) vs. #4 Brooke Austin/Kourtney Keegan (UF) 5-7, unfinished
2. Spencer Liang/Belinda Woolcock (UF) def. Makenzie Craft/Mia Jurasic (ARKW) 8-4
3. #22 Josie Kuhlman/Peggy Porter (UF) def. Flavia Araujo/Sasha Shkorupeieva (ARKW) 8-5
Match Notes:
Florida 12-1, 4-0 SEC; National ranking #3
Arkansas 11-7, 1-3 SEC; National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,4,6,1,2,3)
For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
