Razorbacks Conclude Successful Week at the Duel in the Desert

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — The Arkansas women’s tennis team wrapped up competition at the Duel in the Desert in Indian Wells, Calif., where the Hogs faced off against Clemson, Iowa State, and Kansas in a hidden dual format. The Razorbacks won 21 matches – 14 singles and seven doubles – over the three-day event.

“This weekend was a major stepping stone in preparing for the type of team we want to be this season,” said Arkansas head coach Tucker Clary. “All three programs we faced here bring an outstanding culture filled with talent and competitiveness that brought the best out of our group.”

The Razorbacks had a series of successful singles performances on Thursday, as the Hogs claimed four victories against Iowa State. Senior Indianna Spink came back to defeat Anna Supapitch Kuearum 2-6, 6-1, 6-1, while senior Morgan Cross followed with a straight-set win over Juliette Nask. Graduate Kacie Harvey added another win for Arkansas, taking down Ashlee Narker 6-4, 6-0. Sophomore Anet Koskel grabbed the last victory for the Razorbacks after beating Valeska San Martin Ramirez in straight sets.

The Hogs won two of their three doubles matches on Thursday, with Cross/Spink defeating No. 56 Kuearum/Dunlap, 6-3, while Sophomore Carolina Gomez Alonso and Senior Kelly Keller narrowly took down Arangio/San Martin Ramirez, 7-6 (5).

Arkansas continued its dominant play on Friday, dropping only one of ten matches played. The team claimed six singles wins and swept Clemson in doubles play. No. 59 Gomez Alonso earned her first singles victory of the tournament after a 7-5, 7-5 win over Cristina Mayorova. Keller followed with her first singles victory of her own, defeating Jenna Thompson in three sets. Spink, Cross, Harvey, and Koskel all picked up their second wins at the Duel in the Desert.

All three doubles teams for the Razorbacks won convincingly on Friday, as Spink/Cross defeated Louka/Thompson 6-2. Senior Lenka Stara and junior Grace O’Donnell claimed their first doubles win of the event after a 6-3 victory against Van Zyl/Mayorova. The duo of Gomez Alonso/Keller dominated en route to their second victory in Indian Wells, sweeping Hatton/Tsyurpalevych 6-0.

The Hogs carried their momentum into the final day as the team won six of eight matches played. No. 56 Gomez Alonso continued to roll as she defeated No. 110 Gracie Mulville in straight sets. Keller grabbed her second victory at the Duel in the Desert after a three-set win against Kyoka Kubo, while Stara earned her first victory after taking down Silvia Maria Costache 6-3, 7-6 (3). The final singles win of the day went to O’Donnell, who cruised to a straight-set victory over Kylin Sadler.

Arkansas won two of its three doubles matches on Saturday, with Cross/Spink defeating Mulville/Van Vuuren, 6-4, while Gomez Alonso and Keller took down Titova/Costache Ramirez, 6-0.

“We have goals for the future that can’t be accomplished in one weekend, but each week I see this team take the strides necessary to put themselves in the position to do something special. We look forward to getting back to work this week to prepare for our home opener versus Bradley. One step at a time. Go Hogs.”

The Razorbacks will be back in action next Saturday for their home opener, a doubleheader against Bradley.

Singles Results
Thursday vs. Iowa State
Spink (ARK) def. Kuearum (ISU), 2-6, 6-1, 6-1
Dunlap (ISU) def. Stara (ARK), 6-3, 6-2
Cross (ARK) def. Nask (ISU), 6-2, 6-2
Harvey (ARK) def. Narker (ISU), 6-4, 6-0
Koskel (ARK) def. San Martin Ramirez (ISU), 6-3, 6-2
Arangio (ISU) def. O’Donnell (ARK), 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
Nicholls (ISU) def. Ferguson (ARK), 6-2, 6-2

Friday vs. Clemson
No. 59 Gomez Alonso (ARK) def. Mayorova (CLEM), 7-5, 7-5
Keller (ARK) def. Thompson (CLEM), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Spink (ARK) def. Louka (CLEM), 7-5, 7-5
Tsyurpalevych (CLEM) def. Stara (ARK), 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
Cross (ARK) def. Van Zyl (CLEM), 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Harvey (ARK) def. Hatton (CLEM), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Koskel (ARK) def. Anttila (CLEM), 2-6, 6-3, 7-5

Saturday vs. Kansas
No. 59 Gomez Alonso (ARK) def. No. 110 Mulville (KU), 6-1, 6-3
Keller (ARK) def. Kubo (KU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
Stara (ARK) def. Costache (KU), 6-3, 7-6 (3)
Massey (KU) def. Cross (ARK), 7-6 (3), 6-3
O’Donnell (ARK) def. Sadler (KU), 6-4, 6-1

Doubles Results
Thursday vs. Iowa State
Cross/Spink (ARK) def. No. 56 Kuearum/Dunlap (ISU), 6-3
Nask/Narker (ISU) def. Stara/O’Donnell (ARK), 6-2
Gomez Alonso/Keller (ARK) def. Arangio/San Martin Ramirez (ISU), 7-6 (5)

Friday vs. Clemson
Cross/Spink (ARK) def. Louka/Thompson (CLEM), 6-2
Stara/O’Donnell (ARK) def. Van Zyl/Mayorova (CLEM), 6-3
Gomez Alonso/Keller (ARK) def. Hatton/Tsyurpalevych (CLEM), 6-0

Saturday vs. Kansas
Cross/Spink (ARK) def. Mulville/Van Vuuren (KU), 6-4
Kubo/Massey (KU) def. Stara/O’Donnell (ARK), 6-0
Gomez Alonso/Keller (ARK) def. Titova/Costache (KU), 6-0