Stara Clinches Upset Over No. 12 Auburn

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  – The Arkansas women’s tennis team took the doubles point and three straight singles wins to clinch the upset over No. 12 Auburn under the lights at Billingsley Tennis Center on Friday. The Razorbacks move to 10-10 overall and 4-7 in conference play.

The Razorbacks came back to clinch the doubles point after dropping court two. The point came down to a tiebreaker on courts one and three, No. 45 Cross/Spink earned the first doubles victory with a 7-6 (9) win over their Tigers opponents. It was Kelly Keller and Carolina Gomez Alonso who clinched the early lead for the Hogs, taking down Auburn’s DeSpain/Carnicella 7-6 (5).

Arkansas kept the momentum going into singles play, winning three straight matches to secure the victory. Junior Morgan Cross was off the courts first, earning a 7-5, 6-2 win on court five. Cross improves to 9-1 on court five and 10-3 overall this dual season. On court one, No. 94 Kelly Keller put the Hogs within one with a ranked win over No. 36 Ansar 6-4, 6-4. It was junior Lenka Stara who once again clinched the win for the Razorbacks, coming back to take a three-set 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Auburn’s Okutoyi.

The Tigers were able to get one point on the board with a win on court three, but it was all Hogs after that. Freshman No. 49 Carolina Gomez Alonso defeated No. 44 Ariana Arsenault 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to stretch her win streak to five. On court six, Kacie Harvey closed out the match with a 7-5, 2-6, 1-0 (11) win of her own.

The Razorbacks are back on the courts on Sunday, April 9 against Alabama at 1 p.m., celebrating Senior Day.

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