Tigu provides clincher over No. 13 Tennessee
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Trailing early on, the 23rd-ranked University of Arkansas Razorback women’s tennis team provided a stunning come-from-behind win, 4-3, over the No. 13 Tennessee Lady Volunteers thanks in part to a remarkable match-clincher by sophomore Anouk Tigu on Friday at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center.
“This was an impressive match by both teams, Tennessee has a great squad this year and I’m extremely proud of how hard we competed,” said Razorback head coach Michael Hegarty.
Sixty-eighth ranked Tigu jumped ahead of Tennessee’s (10-4, 3-2) Natalie Plukota, 6-3, in the first set but dropped the second set, 7-5. In the third set, with the match squared at 3-3, Tigu dropped to her knees in joy as Pluskota hit a slice backhand long, giving Tigu the match clincher, 6-4.
“Today was another tough conference match, and I saw my teammates were fighting strong,” said Tigu. “I had some ups and down in the match but when I realized I won and clinched it for our team, all that went away and it felt great.”
Arkansas will take their SEC-leading 4-1 conference record to Athens, Ga. on Sunday against No. 2 Georgia at noon.After falling behind, 2-0, when Jennifer Meredith defeated Emily Carbone, 6-1, 6-1, seniors Ela Kaluder and Aurelija Miseviciute sparked the Razorbacks (9-4, 4-1) back into the match.
“Everybody hung in there today when it looked bleak,” Hegarty said.
Kaluder improved to 4-1 in conference action with a win over Sam Orlin, 6-3, 6-3, giving Arkansas their first point of the day. Fourth-ranked Aurelija Miseviciute snagged her 30th singles victory of the season, 6-4, 6-5, over No. 48 Caitlin Whoriskey, quickly tying the match at 2-2.
Kate Lukomskaya gave the Hogs their first lead of the day in a determining win on Court 6 over Zsofia Zubor, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The Lady Vols jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after capturing the doubles point in a tiebreaker on Court 2. Miseviciute and Kaluder upset No. 32 Whoriskey and Pluskota, 8-5. Orlin and Maria Sorbello dropped Tigu and Carbone, 8-6, then Alda with Zubor claimed a tight match against Nanar Airapetian and Lukomskaya.
Be sure to visit ARKANSASRAZORBACKS.COM for a recap of Friday’s match and live stats for Sunday’s match against Georgia.
#23 Arkansas-4#13 Tennessee-3
Singles1. #4 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark) def. #48 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tenn), 6-4, 7-5.2. #68 Anouk Tigu (Ark) def. Natalie Pluskota (Tenn), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.3. Ela Kaluder (Ark) def. Sam Orlin (Tenn), 6-3, 6-3.4. Jennifer Meredith (Tenn) def. Emily Carbone (Ark), 6-1, 6-1.5. Rosalia Alda (Tenn) def. Nanar Airapetian (Ark), 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5.6. Kate Lukomskaya (Ark) def. Zsofia Zubor (Tenn), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.Order of Finish (4,3,1,6,5,2*)
Doubles1.Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (Ark) def. #32 Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota (Tenn), 8-5.2.Rosalia Alda/Zsofia Zubor (Tenn) def. Nanar Airapetian/Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 9-8(0)3.Sam Orlin/Maria Sorbello (Tenn) def. Anouk Tigu/Emily Carbone (Ark), 8-6.Order of Finsh: (1,3,2*)
