UALR Tennis Prepares for First Home Competition of 2012-13

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Little Rock Athletics Department

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – After splitting a pair of matches in Tulsa, Okla., this past weekend, the UALR tennis team opens up home play Thursday morning (Jan. 24) when it hosts Central Arkansas at Burns Park. Match time is set for 9 a.m.

The Trojans defeated Oral Roberts in a thrilling 4-3 match on Saturday (Jan. 19) before falling to 25th-ranked Tulsa on Sunday (Jan. 20) 7-0. 

Senior Veronique Luksich and freshman Kamilla Galieva both swept their matches against the Golden Hurricane. Luksich sailed to a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles before teaming up with Galieva to blank their opponents at third doubles 8-0. At sixth singles, Galieva did not drop a set.

Also helping UALR rally for the win against ORU was senior Yana Kakovkina and sophomore Dané Vorster. Kakovkina took a 6-1, 6-2 decision at third singles while Vorster claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win at fourth singles.

Luksich, Galieva, Kakovkina and Vorster are all 1-1 so far in spring competition in singles play. Junior Viktoriya Plyuta and freshman Christel Amsallem is 0-2.Galieva and Luksich are both 1-1 in doubles action.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Bears will be competing in their first competition of the spring. In the fall, Central Arkansas went 2-1 in matches against UALR at the Red Wolves Invitational (Nov. 2-4, 2012). Simona Horsikyan took a 6-0, 6-3 win over Plyuta in the only singles match. Horsikyan teamed up with Sasha Ruocco to beat Plyuta and Amsallem in doubles action 8-5. Kakovkina competed in doubles with SIU-Carbondale’s Abigail’s Plecki and beat Central Arkansas’ Stephanie Gonzalez and Bianca Strukelj 8-1.

After the battle with the Sugar Bears, the Trojans travel to Fort Smith, Ark. to take on UA-Fort Smith next Wednesday (Jan. 30). Doubles play is set to begin at 1 p.m.