Hogs top Ole Miss 5-2
FAYETTEVILLE– The No. 17 Arkansas Razorback women’s tennis bounced back against the No. 22-ranked Ole Miss on Friday at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center in Fayetteville. The Hogs picked up their first conference win and eleventh win of the season with a 5-2 win over Rebels.
"Every conference win is a great win," head coach Michael Hegarty said, "This league is so strong and Ole Miss has an outstanding team."
The Rebels came out strong and took the early lead winning the doubles point with wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. Abby Guntrie and Laura van de Stroet earned the Rebels first victory over Stephanie Roy and Valetina Starkova, 8-5. The duo of Kristi Boxx and Karen Nejessin clinched the doubles point with a win over No. 18 Claudine Paulson and Anouk Tigu, 8-4.
In singles play the Hogs continued to trail as Ole Miss edged a 2-0 lead when Kate Lukomskaya fell in straight sets to Karen Nejessin, 6-3, 6-2.
Arkansas had an answer as No. 54 Anouk Tigu put the Hogs on the scoreboard, upsetting the No. 36 Kristi Boxx in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Super freshman Claudine Paulson evened the match score at two-all with her victory over Gabby Rangel, 7-6(7), 6-0. The Hogs continued to rally as freshman Kelsey Sundaram defeated Laura Van de Stroet in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. Sundaram’s win gave the Hogs their first lead of the match.
With two matches still in play, the final decision was yet to be made as both courts split sets.
Stephanie Roy and Abbie Guntrie continued to exchange the advantage in the third set but Roy pushed through the match with much heart and endurance and was able to clinch the set and the match, 7-5, 5-7, 6-0. At the No. 3 position, Emily Carbone wrapped the match with a win over Connor Vogel, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
"This should give us plenty of steam for the bulk of the upcoming matches," Hegarty said. "It was good to see a strong comeback after dropping the doubles point. Credit to both teams for a high quality match."
The Razorbacks will return to the courts Sunday for a noon matchup against Mississippi State to be held at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center in Fayetteville.
For live coverage and complete results on the Arkansas Razorbacks women’s tennis team visit: ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Complete Results
Arkansas 5 Ole Miss 2
Singles
Order of Finish: 2,1,6,5,4*,3
No. 54 Anouk Tigu (OM) def. No. 36 Kristi Boxx (OM) 6-2, 6-2
Karen Nejessin (OM) def. Kate Lukomskaya (UA) 6-3. 6-1
Emily Carbone (UA) def. Connor Vogel (OM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Stephanie Roy (UA) def. Abbie Guntrie (OM) 7-5, 5-7, 6-0
Kelsey Sundaram (UA) def. Laura van de Stroet (OM) 7-5, 6-2
Claudine Paulson (UA) def. Gabby Rangel (OM) 7-6(7), 6-0
Doubles
Order of Finish: 3,*1,2
Boxx/Nejessin (OM) def. Tigu/Paulson (UA) 8-3
Rangel/Vogel def. Sundaram/Lukomskaya (UA) 8-5
Guntrie/Van de Stroet (OM) def. Roy/Valentina Starkova (UA) 8-5
