The University of Central Arkansas split a pair of tennis matches Sunday, falling 5-2 to Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin before defeating Louisiana Tech by the same margin in the nightcap.
In the win over the Lady Techsters, the Sugar Bears (2-12, 0-9 SLC) swept doubles competition and won four of six in singles play.
"I'm very happy with how we played today, especially our doubles," UCA coach Cendey Roberts said. "We played really well in doubles all weekend. This was a big win for us. We needed a win, and this one gives us a big confidence boost. Everybody on the team has a win now and that gives each player some confidence."
The Sugar Bears won five of six in doubles play for the day - taking two of three against SFA (7-12, 2-6 SLC) and winning both that were played against La. Tech. UCA won the third against the Lady Techsters by default.
La. Tech's Adriana Makowska outlasted UCA's Heidi Miller 6-4, 7-5 in the longest meeting of the day.
"Even though she didn't win, I couldn't be more proud of Heidi," Roberts said. "She played well and played extremely hard and was out there fighting for every point all the way until the end."
She continued, "It was encouraging that we got better as the day went on, We finally got everybody playing well at the same time, and hopefully this will give us some confidence and a little momentum heading into Memphis on Thursday. And it'd be really nice if it carries over to McNeese State and Lamar next weekend. It's our last home weekend of the season so it'd be nice to have all of our fans out and see us playing at our best."
UCA 5, Louisiana Tech 2
Singles Competition
1. Keilova, Petra (UCA) def. Wedderburn, Ashley (LATECH) 6-3, 6-2
2. Juarez, Rocio (LATECH) def. Miller, Rebecca (UCA) 6-3, 1-4, retired
3. Adriana Makowska (LATECH) def. Miller, Heidi (UCA) 6-4, 7-5
4. Mainz, Lisa (UCA) def. Smith, Mallory (LATECH) 6-0, 6-0
5. Short, Lindsey (UCA) def. Carolina Pachon (LATECH) 6-0, 6-3
6. Short, Jordan (UCA) def. No player (LATECH), by default
Doubles
1. Mainz, Lisa/Miller, Rebecca (UCA) def. Juarez, Rocio/Smith, Mallory
(LATECH) 8-3
2. Keilova, Petra/Short, Jordan (UCA) def. Wedderburn, Ashley/Adriana
Makowska (LATECH) 8-3
3. Short, Lindsey/Miller, Heidi (UCA) def. No player/No player (LATECH),
by default
Stephen F. Austin 5, UCA 2
Singles
1. Enica, Roxana (SFA) def. Keilova, Petra (UCA) 6-2, 6-2
2. Miller, Rebecca (UCA) def. Harrison, Mary (SFA) 6-4, 6-0
3. Gadeva, Gabriela (SFA) def. Miller, Heidi (UCA) 6-3, 7-5
4. Smolnikova, Tanya (SFA) def. Mainz, Lisa (UCA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Enica, Andreea (SFA) def. McCullough, Rebecca (UCA) 6-0, 6-1
6. Kaempfer, Christelle (SFA) def. Short, Lindsey (UCA) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. Enica, Roxana/Harrison, Mary (SFA) def. Mainz, Lisa2. Keilova, Petra/McCullough, Rebecca (UCA) def. Smolnikova,
Tanya/Gadeva, Gabriela (SFA) 8-5
3. Short, Jordan/Colclough, Charissa (UCA) def. Williams, Jamie/Enica,
Andreea (SFA) 9-7
