CONWAY, Ark. - Abilene Christian women's tennis had its five-match winning streak snapped Sunday morning on the indoor courts of Burns Park, where Central Arkansas held on for a 4-3 victory in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
The Sugar Bears' victory was their first over the Wildcats in four tries and lifted their overall record to an impressive 10-1, while ACU fell to 7-4.
In what may go down as the most competitive dual of the spring, five of the six singles matches were decided in a third set with ACU winning at the top three positions and the Sugar Bears winning at No. 4 and 5. UCA also won the doubles point with 6-1 victories at No. 1 and 3, and then jumped out to a 3-0 lead after Amiru Shimoguchi beat freshman
Sarah Eleanor Adams at No. 4, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, and Rada Manataweewat defeated newcomer
Elizabeth Ryan at No. 6, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
ACU eventually cracked the point column with back-to-back wins at No. 3 and 1. Junior
Lucile Pothier came back from a set down to beat QiLi Ma, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, and Walker battled to a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Pornpawee Pramethong. Unfortunately, the Wildcats' point streak would end there as Marli Van Heerden earned the match-clinching point at No. 5 over sophomore
Jordan Henry, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
Junior
Whitney Williams won her match at No. 2 over Hee-Jin Oh, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3, for ACU's third and final point, and to keep her team-best winning streak alive at six matches. Williams, Henry and Adams all are tied for the team lead in singles' victories with nine.
Williams and Pothier additionally have the Wildcats' longest doubles win streak, which is currently at four matches after winning today at No. 2, 6-4.
ACU will play its next three duals at home, beginning with a March 8 match vs. New Mexico State at 11:44 a.m. The Wildcats will then play host to Southland Conference rivals Lamar and Sam Houston State Friday and Saturday morning at 11:44 a.m.
Central Arkansas 4, Abilene Christian 3
Mar 05, 2017 at North Little Rock, Ark. (Burns Park)
Singles competition
1.
Erin Walker (ACU) def. Pornpawee Pramethong (UCA) 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
2.
Whitney Williams (ACU) def. Hee-Jin Oh (UCA) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
3.
Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. QiLi Ma (UCA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4. Amiru Shimoguchi (UCA) def. Sarah Adams (ACU) 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
5. Marli Van Heerden (UCA) def.
Jordan Henry (ACU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
6. Rada Manataweewat (UCA) def.
Elizabeth Ryan (ACU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. Amiru Shimoguchi/Pornpawee Pramethong (UCA) def.
Erin Walker/Sarah Adams (ACU) 6-1
2.
Whitney Williams/
Lucile Pothier (ACU) def. QiLi Ma/Rada Manataweewat (UCA) 6-4
3. Marli Van Heerden/Hee-Jin Oh (UCA) def.
Ansley Boarman/
Jordan Henry (ACU) 6-1
Match Notes
Abilene Christian 7-4, 0-1 SLC
Central Arkansas 10-1, 1-0 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,6,3,1,5,2)
