No. 43 Razorbacks Drop SEC Opener To No. 20 Tennessee, 6-1

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 43 Arkansas women’s tennis team (7-4, 0-1) dropped its SEC opener to No. 20 Tennessee (9-2, 1-0), falling 6-1 on Friday afternoon at Billingsley Tennis Center.

Tennessee took the early lead after grabbing the doubles point with wins on courts two and three. The Lady Vols struck first as Lauren Anzalotta/Catherine Aulia claimed a 6-1 victory over Kelly Keller/Carolina Gomez Alonso. The Razorbacks responded with Morgan Cross/Anet Koskel earning a 6-1 win over No. 40 Sofia Cabezas/Elza Tomase. The win for Cross/Koskel marked their first ranked victory together this season and fifth straight win overall. The doubles point came down to court two as Tennessee’s Esther Adeshina/Alana Wolfberg clinched the point with a narrow 6-4 victory.

The Lady Vols carried their momentum into singles play, winning on courts four and five to extend their lead. No. 88 Gomez Alonso secured the only point of the match for the Hogs after a 6-1, 6-3 victory over No. 23 Cabezas in the top spot. With the win, Gomez Alonso collected her second straight ranked victory and fifth straight win overall.

Tennessee clinched the match on court six after Anzalotta bested Koskel in straight sets. Stara went the distance in her match on court three, falling in three sets to Wolfberg as the remaining courts were played out. At the No. 2 position, Keller dropped a three-set battle to Tomase to close out the match.

The Razorbacks will return to Billingsley Tennis Center on Sunday, March 3 at noon to host No. 11 Georgia.