WOMEN'S TENNIS FALLS TO ARKANSAS IN FIRST ROUND OF NCAA TOURNAMENT

5/14/2011

Tatsiana Kapshai and Rebeca Delgado pulled a huge upset in doubles but the Hornets
lost, 4-1, to Arkansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Sacramento State women's tennis team lost its first round match of the NCAA Tournament, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Billingsley Tennis Center.

The Hornets (19-9) end their 2011 season with the loss while the Razorbacks (18-9) advance to play No. 15 ranked Clemson in the second round of the tournament.

The match started strong for Sacramento State, as the Hornets won the doubles point.

Maria Meliuk and Clarisse Baca were victorious, 8-3, at No. 2 while the No. 87 ranked tandem of Tatsiana Kapshai and Rebeca Delgado pulled a shocker, upsetting Arkansas' No. 14 ranked pair of Anouk Tigu and Claudine Paulson.

But the Razorbacks regrouped in singles play, winning the first five matches of the day in straight sets to earn the match victory and move on in the tournament.

It was the Hornets' 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament after they also claimed their 10th straight Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament titles.

Sacramento State returns its top five singles starters for next season, losing just No. 6 starter Milica Zivanovic to graduation.

*edit: score was changed to 4-1 after the match at No. 6 singles was ruled to have not been finished by the time the match was won.*

Tennis Match Results
Sacramento State vs Arkansas
5/13/2011 at Fayetteville, Ark.
(Billingsley Tennis Center)

#21 Arkansas 5, #47 Sacramento State 1

Singles competition
1. #33 TIGU, Anouk (ARK) def. #102 KAPSHAI, Tatsiana (SAC) 6-0, 6-3
2. ROY, Stephanie (ARK) vs. DELGADO, Rebeca (SAC) 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
3. PAULSON, Claudine (ARK) def. MELIUK, Maria (SAC) 6-2, 6-1
4. LUKOMSKAYA, Kate (ARK) def. BACA, Clarisse (SAC) 6-2, 6-1
5. CARBONE, Emily (ARK) def. LOHSCHEIDT, Sophie (SAC) 6-1, 6-2
6. FRAMPTON, Jade (ARK) vs. ZIVANOVIC, Milica (SAC) 7-5, 5-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #87 KAPSHAI, Tatsiana/DELGADO, Rebeca (SAC) def. #14 TIGU, Anouk/PAULSON, Claudine (ARK) 9-7
2. MELIUK, Maria/BACA, Clarisse (SAC) def. LUKOMSKAYA, Kate/ROY, Stephanie (ARK) 8-3
3. STARKOVA, Valentina/FRAMPTON, Jade (ARK) def. LOHSCHEIDT, Sophie/ZIVANOVIC, Milica (SAC) 9-7

Match Notes
Sacramento State 19-9; National ranking #47
Arkansas 18-9; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,1,5,4)
2011 NCAA Tournament First Round