Conway – The Central Arkansas tennis team returned to the court for their final match before the Southland Conference schedule begins on Friday, playing host to Missouri State at the UCA Tennis Courts. The Sugar Bears rolled on the day, defeating MSU 6-1.

In doubles play, Missouri State (1-6) took the no. 1 match, as Nataly Yoo and Amiru Shimoguchi fell 7-5 to Ema Turdija and Miranda Poile. The Sugar Bears (3-2) rebounded to earn the doubles point though, as Marli Van Heerden and Xylia Chunan Xiang took the no. 2 match 6-2 over Phoebe Boeschen and Faty Khamissi and QiLi Ma and Rada Manataweewat earned a 6-0 win over Ekaterina Donetskova and Abbey Belote in the no. 3 match.

"Today was a beautiful day," said UCA head coach Casey Wharton. "With the cold and windy weather that we've had, and that is coming this weekend, it great to be outside today. I thought we played well in doubles today. Our number three team played brilliantly, and were able to finish quickly, while our number one and two teams had to fight. Getting the doubles point is such a big point going into singles. It really gives us something to build on."

In singles play, Yoo had to come from behind in the no. 1 match, dropping the first set to Turudija before rallying to earn a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win. Xiang took the no. 2 match 6-1, 6-4 over Anelisse Torrico, while Ma took down Doneskova 6-2, 6-2 in the no. 3 match. Shimoguchi earned a 6-0, 6-0 win before Van Heerden defeated Boeschen 6-3, 6-1 in the no. 5 match. MSU got their lone point of the day in the no. 6 match, where Khamissi defeated Manateweewat 7-6, 6-2.

"While we were able to win most of the singles matches, it was definitely not our best tennis," said Wharton. "But I believe one of the marks of a championship team is that they are able to find a way to get it done, even when they are not playing their best tennis.

"I believe that the matches were actually closer than the scores showed," continued Wharton. " Amiru was able to win her match in pretty straightforward fashion, but QiLi, Marli, and Chunan all had to work very hard to get their wins. I'm very proud of all of them. And hat's off to Nataly for battling through a tough day on the court, but still finding a way to win."

The Sugar Bears return to action on Sunday afternoon, heading to the indoor courts at Burns Park to open their Southland Conference schedule against McNeese State. The match will begin at 9:30 AM.