NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of Central Arkansas tennis program enjoyed a winning Saturday in Louisiana. UCA now sits at 7-6 heading into ASUN play next weekend.
The Bears started things off with a very solid win on the road over the Northwestern State Lady Demons. The pair of Sumomo Hamanaga and Vichitraporn Vimuktananda sealed an early point for UCA in doubles play with a 7-6 win. Nanoka Kazama and Harune Shigemasu started off doubles play with a win over the Lady Demons' No. 2 spot. In singles play, Vimuktananda continued her stellar season, recovering after losing the opening set. Hamanaga's singles win in the No. 3 spot after losing the opening set clinched the victory for UCA. The Bears have now won the last three meetings between the two programs dating back to the spring of 2019.
The afternoon brought the first ever meeting between the Bears and Pilots. The Bears emerged victorious, 4-1 on the back of a great performance from some of their more inexperienced players. Underclassmen Shiegemasu, Ting-An Chen, and Seohyun Park each earned singles victories to help put the Bears on top late Saturday evening.
UCA will start ASUN play next weekend starting Friday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m. in Kennesaw, Georgia against the Owls of Kennesaw State, then the Bears head down to Jacksonville, Florida to take on The North Florida Ospreys on Sunday, March 17th.
UCA 4 – NWSU 3
Doubles:
Vimuktananda / Hamanaga vs. Klevisar/Erenda 7(8)-6(6)
Kazama / Shiegemasu vs. Ishibashi/Umedan 6-3
Konomi Miyakawa / Chen vs. Garcia/Farina 6-2
Singles:
Vimuktananda vs. Klevisar 3-6, 6-4, 7(12)-6(10)
Kazama vs. Ishibashi 2-2 WR
Hamanaga vs. Erenda 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Miyakawa vs. Garcia 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
Chen vs. Farina 6-0, 6-0
Shigemasu vs. Umeda 6-4, 6-1
UCA 4 – LSU-Shreveport 1
Doubles:
Vimuktananda / Hamanaga vs. Sanchez/Lescher 6-0
Kazama / Shigemasu vs. Basto/Gomez 4-2 UF
Miyakawa / Park vs. Maldonado/Mandrot 6-1
Singles:
Vimuktananda vs. Basto 6-2, 5-2 UF
Kazama vs. Lescher 6-2, 3-4 UF
Chen vs. Gomez 6-2, 6-0
Shigemasu vs. Maldonado 6-3, 6-1
Park vs. Sanchez 6-2, 6-3
Mandrot (LSUS) WD
