Arkansas Tops Tennis Bears in Weekend Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Missouri State tennis kicked off a busy road weekend Friday evening with a 4-0 loss at SEC power Arkansas.

The Razorbacks (5-3) captured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 to start the evening.

Kelly Keller and Carolina Gomez topped MoState’s Tuana Gunal and Juliette Robinson, 6-1, at No. 3 doubles before the Arkansas tandem of Morgan Cross and Anet Koskel dispatched Missouri State’s No. 1 duo of Cristina Flaquer and Nicole Ross by a 6-3 count.

Mary Houston and Sandra Lukacova were very much in the match at No. 2 doubles but did not finish their matchup with UA’s Lenka Stara and Grace O’Donnell.

In singles, the Bears (3-4) ran into trouble at No. 2 and No. 4 singles with Houston falling 1-6, 1-6 to Stara in the second flight before Kacie Harvey dispatched MSU’s No. 4 player Robinson, 6-2, 6-1.

At No. 1 singles, Missouri State’s Flaquer gave No. 79-ranked Gomez a tough match early before Arkansas’ nationally-ranked standout ultimately prevailed, 6-4, 6-1.

With the match in hand, the No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches went unfinished. However, Lukacova was leading 5-2 in the second set at No. 5, and Ross had a 2-0 lead in the second set at No. 6 while trying to pull even with her opponent.

“We had a strong showing against Arkansas today,” head coach Ellie Burger said. “We put up a good fight and came away with a lot of growth. We’re excited to get back on the courts for ORU tomorrow.”

The Bears look to rebound Saturday when they travel to Tulsa to take on Oral Roberts at 7 p.m. Coach Burger’s squad returns to Cooper Tennis Complex next weekend to begin a three-match home stand.

#BearsUnite

Results

Missouri State (3-4) – 0, Arkansas (5-3) – 4

Doubles

1. Morgan Cross/Anet Koskel (ARK) def. Cristina Flaquer/Nicole Ross (MSU), 6-3     

2. Mary Houston/Sandra Lukacova (MSU) vs. Lenka Stara/Grace O’Donnell (ARK) 5-3 unfinished     

3. Kelly Keller/Carolina Gomez (ARK) def. Tuana Gunal/Juliette Robinson (MSU), 6-1    

Order of Finish: 3, 1

Singles                             

1. (#79) Carolina Gomez (ARK) def. Cristina Flaquer (MSU), 6-4, 6-1   

2. Lenka Stara (ARK) def. Mary Houston (MSU), 6-1, 6-1           

3. Tuana Gunal (MSU) vs. Morgan Cross (ARK) – 2-6, 3-4 unfinished   

4. Kacie Harvey (ARK) def. Juliette Robinson (MSU), 6-2, 6-1   

5. Sandra Lukacova (MSU) vs. Grace O’Donnell (ARK) – 3-6, 5-2 unfinished      

6. Nicole Ross (MSU) vs. Katie Ferguson (ARK) – 6-7(4), 2-0 unfinished

Order of Finish: 2, 4, 1