Women's tennis great season ends at Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A valiant effort by the 14th-ranked University of Arkansas Razorback women’s tennis team came up short, 4-2, on Friday against No. 3 Duke at the NCAA Championships.The Hogs end the season at 15-8 after qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second-consecutive season and fist time in program history.“It’s hard to end the season with a loss but we take a lot of pride in the way we competed and fought in today’s match,” said Razorback head coach Michael Hegarty. “Our whole team gave it there all against a really impressive Duke team.”Arkansas used their strong doubles play to their advantage against the Blue Devils (26-3) capturing early momentum and a 1-0 lead.Freshmen Emily Carbone and Kate Lukomskaya snuck past Reka Zsilinszka and Ellah Nze, 8-6. Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu providing the clinching point in doubles, 8-4, over 22nd-ranked Amanda Granson and Melissa Mang.The Razorbacks continued to cruise, taking a 2-0 advantage when Lukomskaya dropped Jessi Robinson, 6-4, 6-3.Duke bounced back to take four-consecutive points providing the final score.“Every point was hard fought out there today and I give all the credit to our players for putting themselves in position to be successful this whole season,” Hegarty said.Mang, ranked 112th nationally, defeated Airapetian, 6-0, 6-3, to put the Blue Devils on the board.Number 30 Zsilinszka topped Ela Kaluder, 6-4, 6-2, to knot the match at 2-2. The Blue Devils snatched their first lead of the match, 3-2, when No. 91 Amanda Granson claimed a three-set victory over Carbone, 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-2.Sixth-ranked Mally Cecil upset second-ranked Aurelija Miseviciute 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-1, clinching the match for Duke.The Blue Devils advance to face No. 6 Miami in the quarterfinals on Sunday.SINGLES1. #6 Mallory Cecil (Duke) def. #2 Aurelija Miseviciute (UA), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-12. #37 Ellah Nze (Duke) vs. #77 Anouk Tigu (UA), 7-6 (2), 4-5, DNF3. #30 Reka Zsilinszka (Duke) def. Ela Kaluder (UA), 6-4, 6-24. #91 Amanda Granson (Duke) def. Emily Carbone (UA), 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-25. #122 Melissa Mang (Duke) def. Nanar Airapetian (UA), 6-0, 6-36. Kate Lukomskaya (UA) def. Jessi Robinson (Duke), 6-4, 6-3 Order of Finish: (6,5,3,4,1*) DOUBLES 1. #20 Airapetian/Tigu (UA) def. #22 Granson/Mang (Duke), 8-42. #53 Robinson/Cecil (Duke) vs. #45 Miseviciute/Kaluder (UA), 7-6, DNF3. Carbone/Lukomskaya (UA) def. Zsilinszka/Nze (Duke), 8-6Order of Finish: (3,1*)