Murray, Kentucky – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears returned to action after a 15-day break with a pair of matches in Murray, Kentucky on Sunday. UCA opened the day by defeating Murray State 4-2 before earning a 4-3 win of Southern Illinois.
Against the Racers (1-3) the Sugar Bears (5-0) found themselves in a hole after dropping the doubles point.
Amiru Shimoguchi and
Pornpawee Pramethong dropped the no. 1 match 6-3 to Claire Chang and Alina Schibol, and
Hee-Jin Oh and
Marli Van Heerden fell 6-2 to Anja Loncarevic and Amina Hadzic in the no. 3 match, while the no. 2 match between
QiLi Ma and
Rada Manataweewat and Sara Bjork and Jeanne Masson went unfinished.
Central Arkansas rallied in singles play though, taking four of the five completed matches to secure the win. Pramethong rallied to take the no. 1 match 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 over Anja Loncarevic, while Oh staved off a rally attempt from Sara Loncarevic to win the no. 3 match 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Ma defeated Schibol 6-2, 6-1 in the no. 4 match, and Van Heerden scored a straight-set win of her own, 6-3, 6-2, in the no. 5 match. Murray State got its lone singles point in the no. 2 match, where Hadzic defeated Shimoguchi 6-2, 6-2. The no. 6 match between Manataweewat and Bjork went unfinished.
Against the Salukis (0-3) it was Central Arkansas who would take the doubles point, as Pramethong and Van Heerden took the no. 1 match 6-3 over Xiwea Cai and Ana Sofia Cordero and Ma and Manataweewat took down Meagan Monaghan and Victoria Beirao 6-2 in the no. 2 match. Oh and Shimoguch saw their match against Terza Klocoka and Polina Dozortseva go unfinished.
The doubles point would prove to be the difference-maker as the teams split the six singles matches evening, with SIU getting wins at the nos. 1, 2, and 3 positions and the Sugar Bears taking the nos. 4, 5, and 6 matches. Pramethong fell to Cordero 7-6, 6-2 in the no. 1 match, Oh dropped a 6-3, 6-2 decision to Cai in the no. 2 slot, and Shimoguchi fell to Klocoka 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the no. 3 match. Ma scored a 6-3, 6-2 win over Monaghan in the no. 4 match, Van Heerden took down Athena Chrysanthou 6-2, 6-4 at the no. 5 slot, and Manataweewat too, out Beirao 6-4, 6-3 in the no. 6 spot.
Central Arkansas takes to the court on Saturday, facing off with Alcorn State at 10:00 AM.
