Razorbacks shut out Wichita State for second road win in non-conference

WICHITA, Kan. — Arkansas recorded a 4-0 win over Wichita State Sunday afternoon at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex, notching its second road victory of the dual match season.

Doubles

Arkansas got off to a strong start in doubles play as courts three and one came through for the Razorbacks.

On court three, the sophomore duo of Thea Rice and Laura Rijkers cruised to a 6-3 win while the 34th-ranked Tatum Rice and Lauren Alter battled to a 6-4 decision.

Jackie Carr and Martina Zerulo saw their match go unfinished as they trailed 5-4.

Singles

After taking the doubles point, Arkansas’ effort in the early stages of singles was strong, and a pathway to victory began to emerge.

Rijkers, Carr and Zerulo all posted wins in their respective opening sets.

Rijkers was the first win of the day for the Hogs over Tin-YaHsu on court five, 6-0, 6-3. arr was second to finish in the No. 3 spot, 6-4, 6-2, notching her second victory of the spring season over Lingwei Kong.

Soon after Zerulo nabbed a 6-4, 6-2 win against Sandra Honigova in the No.1 position.

Sophomore Kelly Keller and veterans Alter and Tatum Rice saw their respective singles matches go unfinished. Keller’s bout went incomplete at 6-2, 4-6, 1-1, while Alter’s match was unfinished, heading into the third set 2-6, 7-6(3).

Tatum Rice was moving into a third-set tiebreaker before Zerulo’s breakthrough.

Rice’s match stood at 6-0, 7-5, 2-1 when the fourth and deciding point was awarded to the Razorbacks.

Singles competition
1. Martina Zerulo (ARK) def. Sandra Honigova (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
2. Esther Thebault (WSU) vs. Tatum Rice (ARK) 0-6, 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
3. Jackie Carr (ARK) def. Lingwei Kong (WSU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Marta Bellucco (WSU) vs. Lauren Alter (ARK) 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), unfinished
5. Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) vs. Kelly Keller (ARK) 2-6, 6-4, 1-1, unfinished
6. Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Ting-Ya Hsu (WSU) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Tatum Rice/Lauren Alter (ARK) def. Lingwei Kong/Esther Thebault (WSU) 6-4
2. Marta Bellucco/Natsumi Kurahashi (WSU) vs. Martina Zerulo/Jackie Carr (ARK) 4-5, unfinished
3. Thea Rice/Laura Rijkers (ARK) def. Ting-Ya Hsu/Alexandra Lazarova (WSU) 6-3

Match Notes:
Arkansas Razorbacks 3-1
Wichita State 1-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,3,1)

Information from Razorback Sports Communications is included in this story.