Three Lady'Backs advance to flight finals

Williamsburg, Va. – Lady Razorback singles once again carried the torch for the University of Arkansas women’s tennis team on Saturday at the William and Mary Classic in Williamsburg, Va. and at the Lady Rebel Invitational in Oxford, Miss. Sophomore Audrey Bordeleau, and freshmen Ela Kaluder and Aurelija Miseviciute all advanced to their respective flight championship matches scheduled for Sunday morning. “Day two is often the toughest day in a three day tournament and today was no different, said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty. “Both in Mississippi and in Virginia the team displayed a new level of energy that is extremely encouraging.” Miseviciute and Kaluder were undefeated on Saturday with one win in singles apiece and two wins in doubles as a pair. Miseviciute advanced to the singles with a win by default over Virginia Commonwealth’s No. 22 Marianna Yuferova. She faces #108 Jenna Long of North Carolina in the A flight finals match Sunday at 11:00 AM. Kaluder, on the other hand, had to work for her invite to the championship round, defeating Penn’s Caroline Stanislawski in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2. She tries for a C Flight Championship Sunday against Texas Tech’s Katja Kovacic at 11:00 AM. In consolation doubles at the William and Mary Classic, Miseviciute and Kaluder looked strong, defeating Marshall’s Shannon Brown and Jessica Keener, 8-4, in round one and Virginia Tech’s Inga Beerman and J.J. Larson, 8-2, in round two. On Sunday the Lady’Back pair faces Duke’s Melissa Mang and Jessi Robinson in the Flight A consolation match finals. In Oxford, Bordeleau was the only Lady’Back to escape Saturday’s filed unscathed, winning twice to earn a spot in the Singles White Flight Championship against Mississippi State’s Rennee Joseph. In her second singles match of the weekend, she cruised to victory over Jacksonville State’s Eloah Lopes, 6-1, 6-1. In round three, Bordeleau defeated Ole Miss’ Merry Ellen Henry 6-2, 7-6(5). Maryori Franco made a run in the Singles Red Flight, winning her second round match in three sets over Southern Miss’ Nicole Slater, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). In the semifinal match later that day, Franco was dropped by Ole Miss’ Nika Koukhartchouk, 6-4, 6-4. After losing her opening round match on Saturday, Freshman Lindsey Brown won two matches in the Singles Silver Flight Consolation bracket that puts her in the finals on Sunday against South Alabama’s Marion Lehmann. “We have some areas for improvement, but that is the idea behind these tournaments; to expose those small weaknesses and jump on them early,” Hegarty said. Flight championship matches are scheduled for Sunday. For more information about Arkansas tennis or any other Lady Razorback sport, please visit www.LADYBACKS.com.William and Mary ClassicWilliamsburg, Va. Saturday, September 17, 2005Singles Flight AAurelija Miseviciute, ARK def. #22 Marianna Yuferova, VCU by defaultSingles Flight EEla Kaluder, ARK def. Caroline Stanislawski, Penn 7-5, 6-2Doubles Flight AConsolation Round OneAurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder, ARK def. Shannon Brown/Jessica Keener, MAR, 8-4Consolation Round TwoAurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder, ARK def. Inga Beerman/ J.J. Larson, VT, 8-2Lady Rebel InvitationalOxford, Miss. Saturday, September 17, 2005Singles Red FlightSecond RoundMaryori Franco, ARK def. Nicola Slater, USM, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) Third RoundNika Koukhartchouk, OM def. Maryori Franco, ARK, 6-4, 6-4Singles Blue FlightSecond RoundMelissa Cornett, ARK def. Katie McMiller, SAM, 6-2, 6-2Third RoundKsenia Tokarieva (4), OM def. Melissa Cornett, ARK, 6-0, 6-3Singles White FlightSecond RoundRachel Wilhelm, ARK def. Carlin Cochran, OM, 6-2, 6-4Audrey Bordeleau, ARK def. Eloah Lopes, JSU, 6-1, 6-1Third RoundAudrey Bordeleau, ARK def. Merry Ellen Henry, OM, 6-2, 7-6 (5) Renee Joseph (1), MSU def. Rachel Wilhelm, ARK, 6-3, 6-3Singles Silver FlightSecond RoundElna deVilliers, MSU def. Allison Linden, ARK, 6-2, 6-4Consolation First RoundLindsey Brown, ARK def. Evgenia Yartseva, TTU, 6-0, 6-0Consolation Second RoundLindsey Brown, ARK def. Marcia Barnes, JSU, 6-0, 6-0Doubles Red FlightConsolation Round Second RoundMaryori Franco/Audrey Bordeleau, ARK def. Anna Jackson/Katie McMiller SAM, 8-3Doubles Blue FlightConsolation Second RoundNikhila Narra/Chelsea Bond, USM def. Melissa Cornett/Rachel Wilhelm, ARK, 8-6Bethany Benson/Christie Baker, SAM def. Lindsey Brown/Allison Linden, ARK 8-5– LADY RAZORBACKS —