TULSA, Okla. - The University of Central Arkansas tennis program could not find their groove on the second day of the Tulsa Invitational as they dropped two matches.
It was not the Bear's day as they were swept 7-0 against the University of Tulsa and dropped a tough one 5-2 against Louisiana Tech University.
Tulsa 7 UCA 0
Starting from the beginning, this was an unprecedented dual that saw singles play on Saturday and doubles on Sunday. Neither of these days went the Bear's way as the golden hurricanes dominated. UCA was unable to muster any momentum in this match as the high powered tennis program of Tulsa took over. The dual's closest competition came in doubles as sophomore Fuka Nonoyama and freshman Paulina Engback battled for extra play in the lone set. However, they fell short as Tulsa won the match 7-6.
LA Tech 5 UCA 2
Singles:
The Bears were able to pick back up in the second match of the day as they dualed Louisiana Tech. Junior Yada Vasupongchai was gifted her first opportunity to play in the No. 1 slot against the Lady Techsters and did not disappoint. Vasupongchai claimed the match in two sets, 7-5, 6-1.
Freshman Jaeun Lee continued her rise for the Bears as she once again claimed a victory in the spring season. At the No. 3 position, Lee defeated La Tech's Ilana Tetruashvili 6-1, 6-1. This victory gives Lee five victories in the early goings of the spring season.
Doubles:
In doubles play, the Bears continued the trend of being unable to clinch the doubles point. UCA won one of the two doubles matches thanks to Vasupongchai and sophomore Mei Ishimura. These two made a stellar pair as they claimed the match quickly, 6-3.
Next up on the schedule for the Bears, they head to Clarksville, Tenn., to participate in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader. Starting at 9:30 a.m. UCA will face Belmont before turning their attention to Austin Peay at noon on Sunday.
Quote from coach Casey Wharton:
"I love to compete and I think its an opportunity to go and show what you have been working on. This weekend was the start of head to head competition and even though we didn't get the wins we wanted I did get to see what we have been working on in practice. We had some injuries, but that is just part of sports, so we will come home and get ready for next week."
