CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas tennis program is more than ready to get ASUN play underway after back to back weekends with match postponements. UCA will face both North Alabama and Jacksonville State this weekend at home.
UCA was on a three game win streak before a narrow loss to Murray State last Friday, in what would be the final turn-up for the Bears before conference play, as the match with Oral Roberts was postponed. The loss dropped the Bears to a 6-5 record on the year, with a chance to open up conference play above .500. UCA got a doubles win from Nanoka Kazama and Vichitraporn Vimuktananda along with a forfeit from MSU that allowed them to take a 1-0 lead after doubles. The lone singles win for UCA on the day was from Sumomo Hamanaga, who defeated the No. 4 Slezakova for Murray State.
The North Alabama Lions come into Friday's action at 4-7, and like UCA, will be opening conference play on Friday. UNA is one of the few ASUN teams that UCA has played before it was in the ASUN. UCA took a 2013 match in a 6-1 decision. Last year, in UCA's first season in the ASUN, the Bears came out victorious to the tune of a 7-0 victory in Florence, Alabama. UCA will be looking to go 3-0 against the Lions all-time in a Friday morning matchup.
The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are coming into Conway at 10-3 on the year. The Gamecocks, who have key wins over Mercer, Tennessee State, and Troy, are also opening their conference season against the Bears. UCA has gotten the best of JSU in the past, with a 5-2 victory in the Yellowhammer State last year. UCA has a prime opportunity to jump out to a 2-0 conference lead in 2023, with two talented teams that it has done well against in prior seasons.
UCA takes on North Alabama on Friday, March 10th at 11:00 a.m. Then on Sunday, March 12th, the Bears will take on Jacksonville State also at 11:00 a.m. You can follow along on Twitter at @UCATennis for some updates and post game stories.
