Hogs Kick Off Conference Play this Weekend

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 46 Arkansas women’s tennis team (5-3) is set to open SEC play with a pair of matches this weekend. The Razorbacks first battle No. 24 Ole Miss on Friday at 5 p.m. inside Billingsley Tennis Center and conclude the weekend Sunday at Texas A&M.

The Razorbacks return to the courts following its non-conference finale against Missouri State on February 15. The Hogs got off to a solid start with the duo of Jackie Carr and Kelly Keller clinching the doubles point with a 6-3 win. The strong play continued in singles with Arkansas nabbing wins in five of the opening sets. Laura Rijkers was the first to take her court with a dominant 6-0, 6-2 win, while Carr in the No.1 slot posted a 6-0, 6-1 victory. Ultimately, it was Tatum Rice who clinched the match recording a 6-3, 6-0 win over Ellie Burger in the No. 2 position.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS

Ole Miss, pegged to finish eighth in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, enters the weekend sporting an 8-2 overall record, after a victory over No. 14 UCF in the Rebels most recent match. The Rebels feature one ITA-ranked player in junior Sabina Machalova, who comes in at No.53.

Last season, Arkansas knocked off Ole Miss 5-2 in Oxford. The Rebels hold a 26-13 mark against the Hogs all time.

Texas A&M carries a 10-2 record heading into the weekend and will open SEC action at Kentucky on Friday. The Aggies continued their four-match winning streak after defeating Stephen F. Austin 6-1 in College Station last Saturday. The Maroon and White were picked to finish fifth in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Aggies hold a 14-9 mark against the Hogs all time. Last season, the SEC foes battled until the end with Tatiana Makarova winning the last match to secure a 4-3 victory for the Aggies.