THIBODAUX, La. – The Central Arkansas Tennis team flexed its muscles on Sunday when they defeated the Colonels of Nicholls University 7-0 on the road to improve to 3-0 in Southland Conference play. The Bears (9-5, 3-0 SLC) held their opponent scoreless for the second time this year. Central Arkansas made quick work of Nicholls as only one singles match went to three sets.
UCA 7, NICHOLLS 0
Just like the match against New Orleans, the No. 3-6 Bears got their team cruising on Sunday. Sophomore Yada Vasupongchai gave her team an early 2-0 advantage after blanking her opponent in two sets 6-0, 6-0. Senior Marli Van Heerden picked up win no. 10 on the year after she swept her opponent 6-2, 6-0. Van Heerden was not the only one with 10 wins for long as senior Rada Manataweewat took the momentum from a tough 7-5 set one win and won the second 6-0 to complete the sweep. Freshmen Fuka Nonoyama and Mei Ishimura followed up with sweeps of their own and freshman Chunxi Xin closed the day with a gritty 6-4, 6-7, 10-7 victory to secure the 7-0 win.
To start the day, Ishimura and Vasupongchai improved to 7-4 in doubles play with a dominant 6-2 win. Xin and Van Heerden secured the first point for Central Arkansas after they earned a 7-5 victory. The freshman-senior pairing improved to 4-2 in doubles play.
Head Coach Casey Wharton had nothing but good things to say about his team after the dominant conference showing.
"We played our best match as a team today," Wharton said. "I felt that everyone played fundamentally solid and consistent in the ways that we've been practicing. I also thought we were emotionally balanced and focused throughout all of our matches, which is not easy to do.
I am excited by our performance, but I am more excited to think that if we can stay disciplined and focused, we should be able to play at this level consistently."
UP NEXT
The Bears will conclude their play in Louisiana as they will head to Natchitoches for a matchup with the 9-2 Northwestern State Lady Demons on March 16. The match will feature two of the three remaining undefeated teams in the Southland Conference. The match is set to begin at 11 a.m.
