Razorbacks Conclude Successful Day at ITA Central Region Championships

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Arkansas women’s tennis team completed the second day of the ITA Central Region Championships with two Hogs clinching their spots in the Round of 32 of the singles main draw while three doubles pairs advanced in the main draw.

The Razorbacks opened the day with doubles play as four teams took the court in the Round of 64 of the main draw. The duo of No. 51 Anet Koskel and Grace O’Donnell clinched their spot in the next round with an 8-6 win against Minnesota’s Ante/Turan. Koskel and O’Donnell move on to face Kudryavtseva/Wang (Wichita State) tomorrow at 9 a.m. in the Round of 32.

The tandem of No. 71 Olga Bienzobas and Carolina Gomez Alonso advanced to the Round of 32 after a dominating 8-1 victory over Ben Ezzedine/Jacob (Kansas). Bienzobas and C. Gomez Alonso will match up against Cardona/Marshman (UMKC) tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Lilitha Ndungane and Katarina Pavlechova claimed their berth in the Round of 32 after a narrow 8-7 (5) win against Narker/Supapitch Kuearum (Iowa State). The freshmen advance to play Iowa’s Kranholdt/Vishwase tomorrow at 9 a.m.

Arkansas had four players compete in the singles main draw along with two others participating in the singles C draw. No. 18 C. Gomez Alonso cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Roisin Gilheany (Oklahoma) in the Round of 64 while Bienzobas earned a straight-set win against Nicole Ross (Missouri State) to join Gomez Alonso in the next round. Both Razorbacks will take the court at 10 a.m. tomorrow for their Round of 32 matches.

Koskel and Pavlechova both fell in their opening round matches of the main draw, sending them to the consolation draw. Koskel dropped her match in straight sets to Kansas State’s Charlotte Keitel while Pavlechova was bested by Leonie Moeller (Memphis) in three sets. Pavlechova will face Aiva Schmitz (Minnesota) tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. with Koskel matching up against Fiorella Duran (Saint Louis) tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. in the consolation draw.

Both Ferguson and Ndungane’s matches went the distance in the singles C draw with each Razorback picking up their second singles victory in Memphis. Ferguson defeated Sarah Millard (Arkansas State), 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 while Ndungane took down Nebraska’s Yuzu Miyoshi, 6-0, 5-7, 10-4. Ferguson and Ndungane move on to the singles D draw tomorrow afternoon as Ferguson faces Reya Coe (Nebraska) at 2 p.m. while Ndungane takes on Yinong Ma (Minnesota) at 2:15 p.m.

Day Two Results
Singles Main Draw
R64: No. 18 C. Gomez Alonso (Arkansas) def. Gilheany (Oklahoma), 6-1, 6-1
R64: Bienzobas (Arkansas) def. Ross (Missouri State), 7-5, 6-3
R64: Moeller (Memphis) def. Pavlechova (Arkansas), 6-1, 5-7, 6-0
R64: Keitel (Kansas State) def. Koskel (Arkansas), 6-4, 6-1

Singles C Draw
R32: Ndungane (Arkansas) def. Miyoshi (Nebraska), 6-0, 5-7, 10-4
R32: Ferguson (Arkansas) def. Millard (Arkansas State), 3-6, 6-4, 10-4

Doubles Main Draw
R64: No. 51 Koskel/O’Donnell (Arkansas) def. Ante/Turan (Minnesota), 8-6
R64: No. 71 Bienzobas/C. Gomez Alonso (Arkansas) def. Ben Ezzedine/Jacob (Kansas), 8-1
R64: Ndungane/Pavlechova (Arkansas) def. Narker/Supapitch Kuearum (Iowa State), 8-7 (5)
R64: Kulhava/Polakova (Kansas State) def. Ferguson/J. Gomez Alonso (Arkansas), 8-5