Conway – The Central Arkansas women's tennis team was back in action on Saturday, playing host to Southern Illinois at the UCA Tennis Courts. The Bears continued their season opening winning streak, improving to 5-0 with a 5-2 win over the Salukis.
The Bears (5-0) maintained their perfect record in doubles play this year, taking all three matches to take a 1-0 lead. Nataly Yoo and Cassidy Crawford improved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-4 win over Natasha Tomishima and Meagan Monaghan in the no. 1 match, while Kelsey Williams and Allison Murphy pushed their season record to 5-0 by defeating Vitoria Beirao and Polina Dozortseva 6-2 in the no. 2 match. Kristina Horsikyan and Bianca Strukelj completed the sweep and moved to 4-0 on the season with a 6-2 takedown of Adriadna Cairo Baza and Yana Golovkina in the no. 3 match.
"We knew that SIU was going to be tough, and they didn't disappoint," said Central Arkansas head coach Casey Wharton after the match. "Although the day was warm, the wind never stopped blowing, so it made it a mental battle as well. I was so proud of the girls for staying mentally tough despite the windy conditions, and going out and taking control of doubles. We work hard on our doubles in practice, and this group of girls really loves to play doubles too, and I think that helps us when we are trying to gain the momentum early in a match."
The teams split the first four singles matches to finish, putting the emphasis on the 1 and 2 matches to decide the match. Horsikyan moved to 4-0 on year with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Athena Chrysanthou 6-3, 6-1, while Murphy improved to 5-0 by taking down Ariadna Cairo Baza 6-1, 6-2. SIU answered when Gisela Cairo Baza scored a 6-3, 6-2 win over Crawford and Golovkina took down Strukelj 6-1, 6-1. Yoo and Williams both came through for the Bears, with each picking up a win to put the Bears over the top. Yoo rebounded after dropping the first set to take the no. 1 match 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 over Tomishima, and moved to a perfect 4-0 on the season. Williams and Monaghan traded the first two sets, before Williams eventually prevailed, taking the no. 2 match 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 and moving to 5-0 on the year.
"Even though we won the doubles point, SIU came out with confidence in singles, and grabbed the leads in a few of the matches, which meant it could come down to the wire. After Kristina and Allison convincingly won their matches, it meant we needed to find one more singles win to clinch the match. And with both Kelsey and Nataly being the last two matches on, I was so proud that they both came up big when we needed it. Today was a great win, and I am so appreciative of the people who came out to support us. Now we will get some rest and turn our focus to Harding on Monday."
The Bears will host Harding on Monday at 11:00 AM at the Hendrix Indoor Tennis Complex.
