Razorbacks to Compete Against Familiar Faces
The Razorback women’s tennis team will see some familiar faces as they look ahead to their next meet, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals in Tulsa, Okla.
This meet has a huge importance to head coach Michael Hegarty because a successful meet can lead to qualification for the ITA Nationals later in the season.
The Razorbacks are in the middle of their fall season and look to continue to build on their performances, including the recent Razorback Invitational.
Arkansas got six singles wins over the weekend against a few nationally-ranked opponents, some of which they will face again.
Tulsa and Missouri, who is the only other Southeastern Conference team in the region, also played in the Razorback Invitational.
Tulsa finished last season ranked No. 23 in the country, but the Razorbacks fought hard, going 3-4 in singles against the Golden Hurricanes.
Yang Pang got two wins against Tulsa, beating Saana Saarteinen 6-0, 6-1, and Samantha Vickers 6-3, 6-1.
Arkansas went 2-1 against Missouri. Ana Lorena Belmar Hernandez and Kimberley-Ann Surin each earned wins over the Tigers.
The highest ranked team that the Hogs will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The Huskers are led by a group of four seniors including Patricia Veresova.
Veresova, a senior from Piestany, Slovakia, was named second team All-Big 10 and racked up a total of 52 singles and doubles wins last season.
A large group of Big 12 teams will be competing as well. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State, will all be in Tulsa.
Oklahoma State finished last season the highest-ranked of those teams. They are led by third-year head coach Chris Young.
The Sooners are another familiar foe for the Razorbacks. They went 3-3 in singles matches at the Country Club of Little Rock Invitational, the season’s inaugural event for both teams.
Pang got her first win as a Razorback over Oklahoma junior Whitney Ritchie, 6-2, 6-2.
Sarah McLean and Claudine Paulson also earned wins over Hermon Bhrane , 6-2, 6-2, and Mia Lancaster 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Arkansas won’t be the only team from the Natural State competing — both the Red Wolves of Arkansas State and the Central Arkansas Bears will be competing as well.
Arkansas State will be led by lone senior Ioana Teu, who has 21 singles wins in her career.
UCA has sisters Kristina and Simona Horsikyan leading them. They lead the Bears’ squad, making their second away trip.
South Dakota State, Minnesota, Iowa and Wichita State will also be competing in the invitational.
Arkansas will be looking for a well-rounded performance with all members of the team making a contribution, much like the events earlier in the Razorbacks’ fall season.
