Alabama
University of Arkansas
Alabama Women’s Tennis Falls Short Against Arkansas on Friday Night
4/14/2017 8:35:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Crimson Tide hosts Missouri on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium in last regular season contest
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 33rd-ranked Alabama women's tennis team lost a 4-3 decision to the 18th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday night at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. With the loss, the Crimson Tide falls to an 8-14 overall record including a 2-10 mark in Southeastern Conference play, while the Razorbacks improve to 16-8 and 6-6 in league play.
The Tide executed doubles play brilliantly, as its No. 8 ranked doubles tandem in senior Erin Routliffe and freshman Maddie Pothoff topped Leolia Jeanjean and Giulia Pairone in a 6-2 decision to register the first doubles victory of the contest. Senior Joanna Savva and sophomore Andie Daniell teamed up to clinch the doubles point for the Tide, as the duo defeated Ana Oparenovic and Sasha Shkorupeieva, 6-3, to give Alabama a 1-0 match lead headed into singles play. Court three was tied at 5-5 before play was stopped.
Arkansas responded immediately to begin singles, as Pairone won in straight sets over junior Smith Hinton (No. 4), 6-0, 6-0, to equalize the match score at 1-1. The Tide bounced back to collected a win of its own, as Daniell (No. 2) overcame Oparenovic in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, to give Alabama back the match lead at 2-1. The Razorbacks went on to win straight sets on court three to tie the match score again at 2-2, as Jeanjean won a 7-5, 6-2 decision over senior Danielle Spielmann. Alabama's No. 15 ranked singles player Routliffe went on to outlast Shannon Hudson, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to give the Tide a 3-2 match advantage. Arkansas replied back as Natsuho Arakawa won a three set thriller over Pothoff (No. 5), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, to tie the match score once again at 3-3. After being down 5-2 in the third set Valero (No. 6) battled back to bring the score as close as 5-4, but it wasn't enough as Shkorupeieva went on to win a 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 decision to clinch the 4-3 Arkansas match victory.
The Tide will be back in action on Sunday, April 16, when it is set to host Missouri at 1 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium in the last regular season contest.
No. 33 Alabama 3, No. 18 Arkansas 4
SINGLES:
1. No. 15 Erin Routliffe (Alabama) def. Shannon Hudson (Arkansas) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Andie Daniell (Alabama) def. Ana Oparenovic (Arkansas) 6-0, 6-3
3. Leolia Jeanjean (Arkansas) def. Danielle Spielmann (Alabama) 7-5, 6-2
4. Giulia Pairone (Arkansas) def. Smith Hinton (Alabama) 6-0, 6-0
5. Natsuho Arakawa (Arakansas) def. Maddie Pothoff (Alabama) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
6. Sasha Shkorupeieva (Arkansas) def. Juliana Valero (Alabama) 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
Order of finish: 4,2,3,1,5,6
DOUBLES:
1. No. 8 Erin Routliffe/Maddie Pothoff (Alabama) def. Leolia Jeanjean/Giulia Pairone (Arkansas) 6-2
2. Andie Daniell/Joanna Savva (Alabama) def. Ana Oparenovic/Sasha Shkorupeieva (Arkansas) 6-3
3. Danielle Spielmann/Smith Hinton (Alabama) vs. Shannon Hudson/Natsuho Arakawa (Arkansas) 5-5, DNF
Order of finish: 1,2
For the latest information on the team follow AlabamaWTN on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
