Razorbacks Return to Quarterfinals with Pang

By October 23, 2012

The Arkansas women’s tennis team competed at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Regional at the University of Tulsa over the weekend. Four Razorbacks competed at the tournament in the field of 64, featuring some of the best players from the region.

Freshman Yang Pang advanced to the quarterfinals in singles play as the highest finishing Razorback at the invitational.

The team had a strong showing Friday to start the tournament. Pang won her match against Iowa State’s Simona Cacciuttolo in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.

In her second match, Pang rallied back from a 4-6, 0-4 deficit to beat Tulsa’s Maria Sant’Anna by a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Sophomore Sarah McLean played well Friday, upsetting the No. 6 seed in the tournament Natallia Pintusava from Minnesota in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. After the upset, McLean lost to Kansas’ Maria Cardona in a tough match, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Senior Claudine Paulson lost her first round match to Tulsa’s Isuara Enrique 6-1, 6-2. Freshman Kimberly–Ann Surin also was on the losing end in the first round, dropping her match to the seventh seeded C.C. Sardinha from Oklahoma State, 6-1, 6-1.

Paulson and McLean also competed in doubles Friday, winning their first match against a duo from Drake University 8-2. They then went on to drop the second round match to a pair from Wichita State, 8-5.

Saturday, Pang continued her impressive play in the round of 16, beating the number five seed Jannie Weinreich from Nebraska, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Pang’s victory allowed a Razorback to progress to the quarterfinals at the ITA Regionals for the first time since 2010.

Claudine Paulson defeated UCA’s Simona Horsikyan 6-1, 7-5 in consolation play on Saturday.

Pang’s run ended Sunday with a loss in the quarterfinals to Missouri’s Cierra Gaytan-Leach in a well-fought match, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1. The match lasted well over three hours for the No. 1 players for their respective teams, with both players reaching match point on separate occasions.

The Razorbacks continue play on Nov. 2 in Houston for the Houston Cougar Invite.