Oklahoma State drops Razorbacks in Friday evening dual match

STILLWATER, Okla. — Arkansas dropped a 6-1 decision to No. 16 Oklahoma State on Friday evening at the Greenwood Tennis Center.

Doubles

The doubles point went in favor of the Cowgirls as they posted wins on courts one and two.

Arkansas’ second court combo of Martina Zerulo and Jackie Carr fell to Bunyawi Thamchaiwat and Lenka Stara, 6-3.

On court three, Laura Rijkers and Thea Rice defeated Dariya Detkovskaya and Alana Wolfberg, 6-3, setting up a final bout on the first court.

The doubles point would not go easy as the No. 34th-ranked pair Lauren Alter and Tatum Rice fought back to make it 5-6.

Despite a strong comeback bid, the Razorback duo fell to No. 17 Lisa Rioux and Ayumi Miyamoto, 7-5.

Singles

The Razorbacks came out strong in singles but couldn’t close the sets as the Cowgirls posted opening-set victories in five of the six courts.

Kelly Keller was the only one to put the Razorbacks on the board with a 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7) victory in the No. 5 spot.

Courts four and one were the first to fall Friday evening as Wolfberg knocked off Alter, 6-2, 6-1. From the No.1 position, Zerulo suffered a setback as she was downed by No. 29 Thamchaiwat, 6-0, 6-1.

Carr was next to fall at the No. 3 position as No. 92 Miyamoto notched a 6-1, 6-3 victory. With just one more point needed for Oklahoma State to clinch it, No. 16 Rioux defeated Tatum Rice 6-0, 7-5.

Next time out

Arkansas will be back on the court facing Wichita State in the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Singles competition
1. No. 29 Bunyawi Thamchaiwat (OSU) def. No. 122 Martina Zerulo (ARK) 6-0, 6-1
2. No. 16 Lisa Marie Rioux (OSU) def. Tatum Rice (ARK) 6-0, 7-5
3. No. 92 Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. No. 109 Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-1, 6-3
4. Alana Wolfberg (OSU) def. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-2, 6-1
5. Kelly Keller (ARK) def. Dariya Detkovskaya (OSU) 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Lenka Stara (OSU) def. Laura Rijkers (ARK) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. No. 17 Lisa Marie Rioux/Ayumi Miyamoto (OSU) def. No. 34 Lauren Alter/Tatum Rice (ARK) 7-5
2. Bunyawi Thamchaiwat/Lenka Stara (OSU) def. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) 6-3
3. Laura Rijkers/Thea Rice (ARK) def. Dariya Detkovskaya/Alana Wolfberg (OSU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Arkansas Razorbacks 2-1
Oklahoma State 5-1; National ranking No. 16
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,3,2,6,5)

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.

‘Tired’ Razorbacks drop dual meet to Kansas ahead of SEC

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Arkansas, admittedly tired after focusing on SEC meet, took a 178-118 loss to Kansas at the Robinson Natatorium Saturday morning.

Top Hogs

The team posted a total of 20 podium finishes, including five first-place finishes from swimmers Anna Hopkin, Peyton Palsha and the 400 free relay (3:26.85) foursome of Maddie London, Hopkin, Alyssa Lemon and Sarah Dalton Chambliss.

Hopkin had a fabulous day in the pool picking up three first-place finishes, a podium finish and an NCAA ‘B’ cut.

In the 50 free, the senior claimed first with an NCAA ‘B’ cut time of 22.76, outracing Kansas’ Autumn Looney by over two seconds. She then went on to win the 100 free, touching the wall at 49.77.

Palsha was the first Razorback to win an event, sweeping the 1,000 free (10:06.94). Lexi Ljunggren trailed right behind, finishing the event at 10:10.32.

Both distance swimmers later recorded first and second place in the 500 free, with Palsha getting a final time of 4:55.58 and Ljunggren finishing with a mark of 4:57.10.

Sophomore Vanessa Herrman had two podium finishes, taking second in the 100 breast (1:03.78) and third in the 200 IM (2:08.78). Molly Moore, Andrea Sansores, Kobie Melton and Emma Hultquist were the other Razorbacks to take podium finishes.

Estilla Mosena recorded a second-place finish in the 3- (273.68) and 1-meter (289.58). Freshman Josie Matalone combined for a score of 219.23 on the 1-meter and 253.28 on the 3-meter with both scores earning her a third-place finish.

 Quotables

“Our team is tired from focusing and working hard this week for the SEC Championships. Kansas swam faster and dived better than we did today. Our focus continues to be the SEC Championships, which are still more than two weeks away. We already have five swimmers that have already made NCAAs, so hard work and fatigue are all they need to be dealing with right now. I am proud of the team for staying positive and focused. The days for the Hogs to shine are coming, and I am excited and confident.”

— Arkansas coach Neil Harper

Noland on adapting to not playing football, getting more consistent velocity

Razorbacks pitcher Connor Noland talked Friday about missing the competitiveness of football, but focusing on baseball has allowed him to increase the velocity on his pitches.

Martin ‘excited’ for season to start, confident in Noland, Wicklander on mound

Arkansas shortstop Casey Martin talked Friday about being confident about starting pitchers Connor Noland and Patrick Wicklander and how he’s excited to get his third year rolling.

Moore on decision to leave high school early to play for Razorbacks

Arkansas infielder Robert Moore could be in the final semester of high school getting ready for graduation, but will be playing in Fayetteville and he talked about that decision Friday.

Kjerstad on getting ready to start third season with Razorbacks, this year’s team

Arkansas’ Heston Kjerstad has started in the outfield both of his first two seasons, but may see some time at first base and he said Friday he’s comfortable playing at either position.

Musselman on loss to South Carolina, looking ahead to road matchup with Tide

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman met with the media Thursday afternoon and recapped the narrow loss to the Gamecocks, discussed injuries headed into weekend matchup at Alabama.

Ramirez scores 25 points to lead Razorbacks to big road win over Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Arkansas won its second straight SEC game on Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum, beating Alabama, 66-48.

With the win, Arkansas is now just one SEC win away from matching its conference win total from all of last season.

Redshirt junior guard Amber Ramirez led the way for the Hogs, going for a game-high 22 points.

It was her fifth game this season going for 20+, and her second time doing it in the state of Alabama, as the sharpshooter went for 25 against Auburn earlier this season.

Joining Ramirez in double-figures was Alexis Tolefree, who had 17 points.

Turning point

Arkansas’ offense was good once again early in the game, but the Hogs’ defense was even more effective in the first half, holding the Crimson Tide to just 11 points, the fewest allowed by the Razorbacks to an opponent in a half so far this season.

Arkansas held Alabama to just four of 31 shooting, and one of 10 shooting from three.

Tolefree powered the Razorback attack in the first half to a 22-point lead, pouring in 12 first-half points, including seven in the second quarter alone.

 Hogs highlights

• Ramirez got five of her points at the line tonight, matching a season high.

• Tolefree continues to be great on the glass, as she again led the Hogs in rebounds, pulling down seven of them.

• She also made six free throws, matching her career-high.

• Makayla Daniels led the Razorbacks in helpers tonight, dishing four of them.

Next game

The Razorbacks finish up a two-game road trip in Columbia, Mo., as the Hogs and Tigers will face off for the second time this season.

That game is set to tip at 4 p.m. and can be watched on the SEC Network.

???? Halftime Pod — The South Carolina loss, Bob Holt joins the show, plus team improvements

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Phil & Tye on the loss to South Carolina, Bob Holt joins for basketball talk, and more!