Lady’Backs tennis powers past Wake Forest in NCAA first round
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/65060/
CHAPEL HILL, N. C. — Junior Ela Kaluder turned to her teammates with a smile and a fist pump after defeating Christian Tara to clinch a first round win in the NCAA Tournament, 4-0, over No. 46 Wake Forest Friday at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.
Kaluder’s, 6-3, 6-2, victory was her 14 th in dual action, pushing No. 17 Arkansas into the second-round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. The Lady’Backs will face No. 14 North Carolina Saturday at 4 p. m. ET with a chance to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 next week in Tulsa, Okla.
“ It’s great to advance which is the key this time of the year, ” said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty.
The Lady’Backs clinched the doubles point for the third-straight match to earn early momentum in the shutout.
Audrey Bordeleau and Anouk Tigu dominated Katarina Reveche and Aileen Davis, 8-1, before Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian earned the 1-0 lead, 8-2, over Tara and Emilee Malvehy.
“ Doubles was great for us today and really sparked us in earning the victory, ” Hegarty said.