Razorbacks Vault In ITA Rankings

ITA Team Rankings | ITA Singles Rankings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.  – Fresh off a weekend sweep of No. 43 Alabama and No. 15 Auburn, the Arkansas women’s tennis team advanced to No. 26 in this week’s edition of the Oracle/ITA Division I Women’s Collegiate Tennis Rankings, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced Tuesday.

The Razorbacks’ team ranking is the highest since checking in at No. 24 on Jan. 24, 2012.

“While it is nice to see that we continue to move up in the rankings, our players remain firmly focused on the ingredients that are responsible for it,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “Every match in this conference provides us a great opportunity to improve ourselves, and that is all that matters at this stage.”

Arkansas (10-6, 3-2) has defeated six teams currently ranked in the top 75 and has won four-straight matches, including three-straight in Southeastern Conference play. Most recently, the Razorbacks defeated the Crimson Tide 4-3 on Friday, and then followed that up with a commanding 6-1 victory over the No. 15 Tigers on Sunday.

In addition to the team ranking, two Razorbacks broke into the top 125 in singles for the first time this spring.

Freshman Ana Oparenovic earned the No. 83 spot after picking up a pair of victories at No. 2 singles this past weekend. She defeated Alabama’s No. 31 Andie Daniell 7-6 (5), 7-5 and Auburn’s No. 76 Alizee Michaud 6-3, 6-1. Michaud was previously 15-1 overall and 12-0 in dual matches. It was her first loss since Sept. 18, 2015. Oparenovic’s win was her fourth-straight over a ranked opponent and improved her record to a team-best 12-4 in dual matches and 4-1 in league play.

Senior Yuliya Lysa checked in at No. 88 after going 1-1 for the weekend. Against Auburn, Lysa eased past No. 21 Andie Dikosavljevic 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 1 singles spot. The win upped her record to 5-3 in dual matches and 3-2 in league play.

The Razorbacks will put their four-match win streak on the line Wednesday with a doubleheader against Jackson State. The first match will start at 11 a.m. CDT, and the second contest will follow at 2 p.m.

For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis, follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.