SMU rallies to avoid upset by Arkansas

DALLAS – On a blustery day in University Park, Arkansas came within a pair of sets of pulling the upset over Southern Methodist, 4-3, in regional women’s college tennis. The Lady Razorbacks, 4-6, had to wait a day due to heavy rains on Sunday to face SMU, 10-5. The afternoon saw no rain, but a steady strong wind whipping through the Mustangs’ courts during the four-hour event. “After leading 3-1, it’s disappointing to not get the victory, especially since we had some opportunities to close them out but didn’t take them,” Coach Michael Hegarty said. “SMU earned their victory, and it was a great comeback by them. It was disappointing for us.” Arkansas blew through doubles to take the early lead with a sweep of the Mustangs. Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder took first doubles, 8-5, over Natalia Bubien and Svetlana Kouzemenko. On the second court, Maryori Franco and Karina Ledaja had little trouble putting away Georgiana Marta and Monica Neveklovska, 8-2. Melissa Cornett and Audrey Bordeleau defeated sisters Brooke and Halley Rambally, 8-6, at No. 3. The two regional rivals split the top two singles courts in straight sets. Miseviciute swept Bubien, 6-1, 6-1, to take No. 1 while SMU rallied with a 6-3, 6-1, decision by Kouzemenko over Vlatka Jovanovic, 6-3, 6-1. Franco picked up a sweep at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-2, over Kristen Reid, and it appeared Arkansas was on its way to victory, leading 3-1 with three matches on the courts. The Mustangs pulled within one as Ledaja battled hard in both sets but could not defeat Brooke Rambally, 7-5, 6-4. The team result came down to the third and sixth courts, and both matches went the distance. Bordeleau got off to a fast start at No. 6, but after dropping the second ran out of gas in the final set to Halley Rambally, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. That set the table for a long battle in the final set on court three. Kaluder took the first set, 6-3, over Georgiana Marta. Marta turned the match around with a 6-1 second. Kaluder composed herself and appeared ready to close out the match and the team score in the third, but Marta rallied on the final points to claim the third, 7-5. Arkansas returns to Fayetteville to prepare for another road trip, this time back into Southeastern Conference play at Florida on Friday afternoon. Tennis Match ResultsArkansas vs SMUMar 20, 2006 at Dallas, Texas#43 SMU 4, #64 Arkansas 3Singles competition1. #38 Aurelija Miseviciute (UA) def. Natalia Bubien (SMU) 6-1, 6-1 2. Svetlana Kouzmenko (SMU) def. Vlatka Jovanovic (UA) 6-3, 6-13. Georgiana Marta (SMU) def. # 45 Ela Kaluder (UA) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5(clinched)4. Maryori Franco (UA) def. Kristen Reid (SMU) 6-2, 6-25. Brooke Rambally (SMU) def. Karina Ledaja (UA) 7-5, 6-46. Halley Rambally (SMU) def. Audrey Bordeleau (UA) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0Doubles competition1. Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (UA) def. Natalia Bubien/Svetlana Kouzmenko (SMU) 8-52. Maryori Franco/Karina Ledaja (UA) def. Georgiana Marta/Monica Neveklovska (SMU) 8-23. Melissa Cornett/Audrey Bordeleau (UA) def. Brooke Rambally/Halley Rambally (SMU) 8-6