Season ends for tennis against #18 Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas – A short-handed Arkansas received valiant efforts, but it was not enough to overcome 18th-ranked Texas as the Longhorns ended the Lady Razorbacks’ comeback season in the opening round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament, 4-0. Arkansas finished the season at 10-11 and a national ranking of 44th while Texas, 18-11, advances to face the winner of Rice and first-round event host TCU on Saturday. "We fought hard, and it was much closer than the score would indicate," UA head coach Michael Hegarty said. "We had some players battle today, and give it their best. We were so close on several courts." After dropping the opening set 6-3, Ela Kaulder rallied in the second set on court two against Petra Dizdar to even her match with a 6-3 second. At the same time, Audry Bordeleau was within a game of taking her match in straight sets on court five against Kelly Baritot. Bordeleau took the first 6-4, and had the lead 5-4 in the second. "Audry and Ela gave us their all today, and it’s just unfortunate that they didn’t get the chance to close out their matches," Hegarty said. "We were close on a lot of courts." Mayori Franco defeated blitzed Kendra Strohm, 6-1, in the second after falling 7-5 in the first on court three Both Kaulder and Bordeleau missed the opportunity to register Arkansas’ first postseason wins since the 2001 NCAAs as the Longhorns clinched the match with wins at one, four and six. The Longhorns took a 1-0 advantage in the match by taking the doubles point with 8-1 wins in the proset at one and three. Arkansas’ team of Bordeleau and Kaulder were denied their first chance at wins as their match at two doubles was halted with the lead, 5-4, over Strohm and Kelly Baritot. Vlatka Jovanovic lost on court one, 6-4, 6-2, to Mia Marovic. Senior Melissa Cornett was defeated by Courtney Zauft at No. 4, 6-1, 6-3, while Rachel Wilhelm closed out the singles on court six with a 7-5, 6-1, loss to Ristine Olson. Arkansas played without its top singles player, Aurelija Miseviciute, in the opening round NCAA event. #18 Texas 4, #44 Arkansas 0TCU Tennis Stadium, Fort Worth, TexasSinglesMia Marovic (UT) def. Vlatka Jovanoic (UA), 6-4, 6-2Ela Kaulder (UA) v. Petra Dizdar (UT), 6-3, 6-3*Mayori Franco (UA) v. Kendra Strohm (UT), 5-7, 6-1*Courtney Zauft (UT) def. Melissa Cornett (UA), 6-1, 6-3Audry Bordeleau (UA) v. Kelly Baritot (UT), 6-4, 5-4*Ristine Olson (UT) def. Courtney Zauft (UA), 7-5, 6-1Singles order of finish: DoublesMarovic/Zauft (UT) def. Franco/Ledaja (UA), 8-1Bordeleau/Kaluder (UA) v. Baritot/Strohm (UT), 5-4*Dizdar/Olson (UT) def. Cornett/Jovanovic (UA), 8-1Doubles order of finish: 1, 2*–matches halted before completion