GOLDEN SUNS DROP MATCHES LAST WEEKEND AT SOUTHERN ARKANSAS CLASSIC TO SE OKLAHOMA, HENDERSON STATE

        MAGNOLIA, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Tennis closed out play at last weekend’s Southern Arkansas Classic by dropping its final two matches against Southeastern Oklahoma and Henderson State.

Tech fell 9-0 last Saturday to Southeastern Oklahoma and then dropped an 8-1 decision to Henderson State in a non-conference match. With the two losses, Tech falls to 4-12 on the combined fall and spring season.

Against SE Oklahoma, Tech opened the match by dropping all three doubles matches. In doubles play, though, Tech did lead at both No. 1 and No. 3 doubles before falling 9-7 and 8-6 respectively. At No. 2 doubles, Tech lost 8-0.

In singles play, the closest match was at No. 3, where junior Karissa Lentz (Norco, Calif.) battled with Jenna Newton before falling in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Sophomore Kristen Burgess (Winona, Texas) at No. 4 singles and junior Whitney Simmons (Pottsville, Ark.) at No. 5 singles lost by identical 6-2, 6-2 scores.

Meanwhile, against the Lady Reddies, Tech opened by falling in all doubles matches, including losing by scores of 8-6 at No. 2 and 8-5 at No. 3 doubles.

In singles play, junior Renee Malcuit (Lakeside, Calif.) prevented an HSU sweep as she defeated Allison Hill at No. 6 singles by identical 6-1, 6-1 scores. Burgess lost at No. 3 singles in a third set tiebreaker to HSU’s Shelley Westerfield.

Tech returns to action on Thursday, March 22 when they travel to Searcy, Ark., to face Harding in a Gulf South Conference match.  

RESULTS

Southeastern Oklahoma 9, Tech 0

SINGLES

No. 1  – Cindy Thomas (SEOSU) def. Tahnee Crous (Tech), 6-1, 6-1

No. 2  – Melanie Velacco (SEOSU) def. Puja Paul (Tech), 6-1, 6-0

No. 3  – Jenna Newton (SEOSU) def. Karissa Lentz (Tech), 6-3, 6-2

No. 4  – Deana Brooks (SEOSU) def. Kristen Burgess (Tech), 6-2, 6-2

No. 5  – Amber Thompson (SEOSU) def. Whitney Simmons (Tech), 6-2, 6-2

No. 6  – April Beaumont (SEOSU) def. Renee Malcuit (Tech), 8-4

DOUBLES

No. 1  – Thomas/Velasco (SEOSU) def. Burgess/Crous (Tech), 9-7

No. 2  – Brooks/Newton (SEOSU) def. Simmons/Lentz (Tech), 8-0

No. 3  – Thompson/Beaumont (SEOSU) def. Paul/Malcuit (Tech), 8-6 

Henderson State 8, Tech 1

SINGLES

No. 1  – Justina Gasca-Silav (HSU) def. Tahnee Crous (Tech), 6-2, 6-3

No. 2  – Meredith Massey (HSU) def. Puja Paul (Tech), 6-3, 6-0

No. 3  – Rebecca Staton (HSU) def. Karissa Lentz (Tech), 6-2, 6-1

No. 4  – Shelley Westerfield (HSU) def. Kristen Burgess (Tech), 7-5, 4-6, 10-1

No. 5  – Megan Harness (HSU) def. Whitney Simmons (Tech), 6-3, 6-4

No. 6  – Renee Malcuit (Tech) def. Allison Hill (HSU), 6-1, 6-1

DOUBLES

No. 1  – Massey/Staton (HSU) def. Burgess/Crous (Tech), 8-3

No. 2  – Gasca-Silav/Harness (HSU) def. Simmons/Lentz (Tech), 8-6

No. 3  – Tara Meier/Westerfield (HSU) def. Paul/Malcuit (Tech), 8-5

-- Tech Athletics --