COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Central Arkansas Tennis Team wrapped up nonconference play this weekend in Missouri, leaving Columbia with a 1-1 split. The Bears fell to the #34 ranked Missouri Tigers 1-4 on Saturday, but kept their heads held high and defeated the Bears of Missouri State 6-1 this afternoon. Freshman Chunxi Xin shined over the weekend, going 2-0 in her first two singles appearances for the Bears.
UCA 1, MISSOURI 4
Although the Bears only earned one point, they did not lay down to the Tigers. The top four Central Arkansas players recorded three or more set wins against their opponents. Xin slid into the No. 3 spot for her first spring collegiate match and defeated Lisa Fukutoku 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 to earn the lone point for the Bears. Mei Ishimura and Yada Vasupongchai improved to 5-4 in doubles play with a 6-2 win.
UCA 6, MISSOURI STATE 1
Central Arkansas flipped the script on Missouri State and held them to one point in the battle of the bears. Xin woke up on the right side of the bed this morning as she continued her solid play with a 6-2, 6-2 win to get the Bears' first point. QiLi Ma returned from injury in the No. 6 spot and won a tight one 3-6, 6-3, 11-9. Nonoyama, Van Heerden and Vasupongchai also picked up wins on the day.
The band got back together in doubles play as Ma rejoined Rada Manataweewat on the court to continue their undefeated journey, winning 7-5 to improve to 5-0 on the year.
Heading into conference play, Head Coach Casey Wharton knows there is more to his team than what the world has seen so far this season.
"We don't know our full potential just yet," Wharton said. "This weekend was a good test. I was really proud of my team to turn around from a tough Missouri match and respond with a win against another good team.
Each weekend we come closer to the team we want to be."
UP NEXT
The Bears will open conference play with a home match against the Lamar Cardinals on March 1 at the UCA Tennis Courts. Just two quick days after that, Central Arkansas will travel to Waco, Texas to take on conference powerhouse Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
Wharton said his team will have to quickly transition to playing outdoors as rain and cold temperatures have limited his team's access to outdoor courts.
"Most of our matches so far have been indoors, so we're going to have to shift our focus to outdoor play," Wharton said. "Playing in the Southland means little indoors play so it's going to be a transition for us."
