Gomez Alonso, Harvey Earn Wins as Hogs Fall to Alabama, 5-2
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 50 Arkansas women’s tennis team (7-6, 0-3) suffered a 5-2 loss to No. 15 Alabama (12-1, 3-0) on the road Friday evening at Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility.
Alabama grabbed the early lead after taking the doubles point with victories on courts one and two. Sedlackova/Parkhomenko struck first for the Crimson Tide after a 6-3 win over Lenka Stara/Grace O’Donnell at the No. 2 position. Indianna Spink returned to the doubles lineup for the Razorbacks alongside Morgan Cross for the first time since the tandem’s top-10 victory against Michigan. However, the duo of No. 20 Bencheikh/Hiser narrowly defeated No. 25 Cross/Spink, 7-5, to clinch the doubles point for Alabama. Kelly Keller and Carolina Gomez Alonso’s match went unfinished with the score tied 6-6.
The Crimson Tide carried their momentum into singles play, winning on courts four and six to extend their lead. The Hogs responded by claiming the next two points as Kacie Harvey ended her three-match skid with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 victory over Parkhomenko at the No. 5 position. No. 48 Gomez Alonso followed with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win against No. 32 Bencheikh in the top spot. The victory for Gomez Alonso marks her third consecutive win over a ranked opponent and sixth straight victory overall.
Alabama clinched the match on court two after No. 83 Sedlackova bested Keller in two tiebreak sets. Cross went the distance in her match on court three, falling in a third-set tiebreak to Hiser to close out the match.
The Razorbacks are back in action on Sunday, March 10, at noon to face No. 12 Auburn on the road at Yarbrough Tennis Center.
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