KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of Central Arkansas tennis program started off ASUN play with a loss to the Kennesaw State Owls, dropping the Bears to 0-1 in the ASUN, with a 7-7 overall record. UCA has a chance to get back to .500 in league play later this weekend before returning home at the end of next week.
UCA got off to a solid start in doubles play with Vichitraporn Vimuktananda and Sumomo Hamanaga opening thigs with a 6-3 win. Nanoka Kazama and Harune Shigemasu secured the early point for the Bears with a gutsy 7-6 tiebreak win over the Owls No. 2 doubles pair.
Vimuktananda continued her stellar start to singles play this season, defeating Dean in the Owls' No. 1 singles player. Unfortunately for the Bears, the Owls ate up all the opportunities in singles play and KSU was eager to get to a 2-0 mark in league play. Hamanaga was in the process of making a comeback, winning the second set before KSU's Madrid won the third set, 6-1. KSU evens the all-time series at a match apiece before the Owls head for the CUSA in the fall, meaning this is more than likely the final in-conference matchup between the Owls and Bears.
UCA will continue ASUN play on Sunday, March 17th at 9:00 a.m.in Jacksonville, Florida to take on the North Florida Ospreys. To keep up with all things Bears tennis, follow @UCATennis on Twitter/X.
UCA 2 – KSU 5
Doubles:
Vimuktananda / Hamanaga vs. Dean/Barianakova 6-3
Kazama / Shigemasu vs. Madrid/ Persson 7-6
Konomi Miyakawa / Seohyun Park vs. Gresova/Unger 6-1
Singles:
Vimuktananda vs. Dean 6-2, 6-4
Kazama vs. Barianakova 7-5, 6-3
Hamanaga vs. Madrid 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
Miyakawa vs. Unger 6-1, 6-0
Shigemasu vs. Persson 6-3, 6-1
Ting-An Chen vs. Nadaka 6-2, 6-2
