Bulldogs defeat Hogs 5-2
FAYETTEVILLE — The No. 22 Razorback women’s tennis team was defeated by the No. 14 Georgia Lady Bulldogs, 5-2, Friday afternoon, which breaks their two-match conference winning streak heading into today. The Hogs fell prone to dropping the doubles point again in the match, which allowed Georgia to take the momentum into singles and win four of the six remaining matches, gaining their fifth straight SEC win and remaining undefeated in conference play.
“Give credit to Georgia today in getting a hard fought win,” said head coach Michael Hegarty.
The Razorbacks (12-5, 2-3), who were coming off a tough loss last week to Texas A&M, were able to notch a quick doubles win at the number three spot after the team of freshmen Claudine Paulson and Valentina Starkova soundly defeated their counterparts, Naoko Ueshima and Lara Fakhoury, 8-2. Georgia then responded back at the number one spot to take it down to court number two. The team of Kate Lukomskaya and Kelsey Sundaram played a tough match that went down to a tiebreaker. Unfortunately Arkansas was not able to pull out the win against Yvette Hyndman and Cameron Ellis and the Lady Bulldogs won the important doubles point heading into singles play.
In singles play, Georgia seemed to have a lot of momentum after doubles and notched a quick win at the number five spot when Ellis defeated Paulson in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. However, the Hogs were able to answer right back and actually tie the overall match, getting two straight wins at courts four and six from Sundaram and Starkova. The win for Sundaram was her first at the No. 4 spot this season and thirteenth overall this spring. For Starkova, it was her second at the No. 6 spot and fifth overall in dual matches.
Georgia was able to win the next point at court two when Nadja Gilchrist, the No. 25 player in the nation, defeated sophomore Emily Carbone in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Arkansas would not get any more wins after that in the final two matches as the Lady Bulldogs won the two remaining matches in straight sets.
“I was pleased with how we battled today,” said Hegarty. “There is a fine line between a win and a loss on a day like today.”
The Razorbacks will now hit the road to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the No. 15 Lady Volunteers. Last season, Arkansas won the match against Tennessee in a stunning come-from-behind win, including getting a clinching match win from then-sophomore Anouk Tigu. First serve for the match is set for noon. For complete results and coverage of the Razorback women’s tennis team, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.Complete Results#14 Georgia 5#22 Arkansas 2DoublesOrder of Finish: 3, 1, 2*No. 1 #9 Chelsey Gullickson/Nadja Gilchrist (UGA) def. Anouk Tigu/Stephanie Roy (ARK) 8-5No. 2 Yvette Hyndman/Cameron Ellis (UGA) def. Kate Lukomskaya/Kelsey Sundaram (ARK) 9-8 (8)No. 3 Claudine Paulson/Valentina Starkova (ARK) def. Naoko Ueshima/Lara Fakhoury (UGA) 8-2Singles Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 2, 1*, 3No. 1 #13 Chelsey Gullickson (UGA) def. #55 Anouk Tigu (ARK) 6-2, 6-4No. 2 #25 Nadja Gilchrist (UGA) def. Emily Carbone (ARK) 6-3, 6-1No. 3 Yvette Hyndman (UGA) def. Stephanie Roy (ARK) 6-4, 6-3No. 4 Kelsey Sundaram (ARK) def. Naoko Ueshima (UGA) 6-1, 6-3No. 5 Cameron Ellis (UGA) def. Claudine Paulson (ARK) 6-3, 6-2No. 6 Valentina Starkova (ARK) def. Lara Fakhoury (UGA) 6-2, 6-1
