17 Mar 2021 UCA dominates in tennis

The University of Central Arkansas claimed their second conference victory March 13 as they bested Southeastern Louisiana. 

The Bears won seven of the eight matches today as they pushed through the Lady Lions in a 6-1 route. 

“I was excited to get the match at home outdoors,” Head Coach Casey Wharton said. “We knew it was going to rain tomorrow and that it was going to rain tonight and the fact that we could get outside on our home courts with the crowd watching is super positive. “The Southeastern team is very good at doubles,” Wharton continued. “We like to build our momentum in doubles. This is a team that is very good at doing that and for us to get the doubles point today was harder than a lot of the matches we play. I thought some of the matches did really well at getting in front and staying in front. Just building momentum and keeping momentum. I think there were a couple of matches that went our way and obviously, CC (Xin) played really well and that didn’t go our way, but that’s sports. Overall, I am very proud and encouraged that we were able to get two wins this weekend.”

Doubles:

UCA started off the match on the right foot as they once again only played two doubles matches. The team of junior Yada Vasupongchai and sophomore Mei Ishimura started the quick decision as they were the first doubles team to finish. The pair made quick work of their opponents as they bested them 6-2. Following shortly behind was the freshmen pairing of Jaeun Lee and Maja Gledic. This pairing did not get the chance to finish yesterday but made sure that wouldn’t happen again as they breezed through the opposition 6-2. 

Singles:

In identical fashion to yesterday, the Bears had one singles player that finished in astonishing time. This time out, it was Vasupongchai as she bypassed the Lady Lions No. 3 in no time with a 6-0, 6-0 victory. 

After that finish, it was a short while before a trio of UCA players finished out their matches. In that trio, first was Lee; Lee has made a habit of winning in the spring and the majority of the time in quick fashion. Lee bested her opponent 6-2, 6-1, then following that was freshman Sumomo Hamanaga and Maja Gledic. Hamanaga finished hers out 6-2, 6-2, and Gledic came in no later than five minutes after for the 6-2, 6-1 victory. Lastly was the Bears No. 2 Nonoyama, as she had a tough one in the second set. Nonoyama won her first set 6-2 but had more of a battle in the second as she came out on top 6-4. 

Up next, UCA heads to Huntsville, Texas, as they take on Sam Houston on March 26 at a time that has yet to be announced.