Lady’Back tennis squad advances to NCAA tourney
Posted on Monday, May 12, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N. C. - Freshman Delia Damaschin spoiled host No. 15 North Carolina's party on Saturday surging the 17 th-ranked University of Arkansas Lady Razorbacks into the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, 4-3.
Although Damaschin only appeared in ten dual matches this season, the native of Onest, Romania shined bright, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, over Meg Fanjoy thrusting Arkansas into its first Sweet 16 in ten years.
Arkansas (17-9 ) will look to advance into the Elite Eight of the tournament for the first time in program history at 3 p.m. Thursday against No. 2 Georgia in Tulsa, Okla.
"Today was a really special college tennis match not only overall, but for our program as well," said Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty.
For the fourth-straight match the Lady'Backs ignited momentum by claiming the doubles point. After being down 5-4, No. 23 Aurelija Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder fought back, 8-5, upsetting No. 15 Sanaz Marand and Sophie Grabinski. The clincher was earned by Maryori Franco and Nanar Airapetian over No. 58 Katrina Tsang and Austin Smith, 8-6, giving Arkansas the early 1-0 lead.
"Doubles was the usual critical point in today's total team effort," Hegarty said.
Tigu displayed a starstudded performance, 6-4, 6-2, over No. 94 Smith pushing Arkansas a head 2-0 quickly against the Tar Heels (18-9 ).
UNC would not give up that easily with the home-crowd behind them as they claimed three straight courts to suddenly gain momentum and the lead, 3-2. Grabinski dropped Bordeleau, 7-5, 6-2. Lauren Reichert tied the match at 2-2 with a victory over Airapetian, 7-5, 6-4, while No. 9 Marand upset No. 1 Miseviciute, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, for the short lead.
"We knew UNC was an excellent team, and they were even better than we thought here today," Hegarty said.
Kaluder, ranked No. 73 in singles, declared a win over No. 28 Tsang, 7-6 (4 ), 3-6, 6-2, taking the life out of the home crowd to set up the match clincher by Damaschin.
"I really believe us playing in so many close 4-3 matches proved to be the difference for our team here today," Hegarty said.
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