Tennis takes on Manhattan (Kansas that is)

MANHATTAN, Kansas – The Arkansas Lady Razorback tennis team gets a taste of dual match play with the Kansas State Invitational beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday morning.

The mock dual format pits an informal line-up of players school versus school to simulate the type of action in the spring season.

Arkansas heads to KSU with eight players taking part, led by Mayori Franco at the top slot, followed by Ela Kaluder, Audrey Bordeleau and Rachel Wilhelm. Newcomers Nanar Airapetian, Carly Dixon, Melissa Hoffmeister and Stacia Cozirscaia round out the tentative singles lineup.

The day opens early with Arkansas facing Kansas State in three doubles matches, followed by the Lady’Backs playing Missouri at 10:30 a.m. in three more doubles tilts. The afternoon concludes with six singles contests against KSU players.

Kaluder and Bordeleau are Arkansas’ likely top doubles team, followed by Franco and Airapetian and Wilhelm and Cozirscaia.

“This is a good test for our team depth, and we will probably make decisions on the singles lineup after the doubles are played,” UA head coach Michael Hegarty said.

Arkansas is set to face Tulsa players on Saturday, then returning to contests against Missouri players on Sunday.