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The SMU women defeated #17 Arkansas today in Fayetteville 5-2. SMU won the doubles point by winning all three doubles matches. The Mustangs then reached the victory with wins by Pavi Frances, Sasha Malyarschilova and Kseniia Tokarieva for the magic number of four. Marta Lesniak then topped it off with a win over the #4 player in the country in the third set. The win improves the Mustangs to 13-2 for the year.

Way to go Coach Meisner! Great win for SMU and for the program. I'd say the best win for the program in ages. Keep it up the rest of the season and bring home the C-USA title!

#69 SMU 5
#17 Arkansas 2

Singles1. Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. #4 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark), 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(7)
2. #92 Anouk Tigu (Ark) def. Natalia Bubien (SMU), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
3. Aleksandra Malyarschikova (SMU) def. Ela Kaluder (Ark), 7-6, 6-0.
4. Pavi Francis (SMU) def. Nanar Airapetian (Ark), 6-4, 6-3.
5. Emily Carbone (Ark) def. Nicole Briceno, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
6. Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) def. Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 6-2, 7-6(2)

Order of Finish: (4,6,3*,5,2,1)

Doubles
1. Marta Lesniak/Aleksandra Malyarschikova (SMU) def. #12 Nanar Airapetian/Anouk Tigu (Ark), 9-7.
2. Natalia Bubien/Pavi Francis (SMU) def. #56 Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (Ark), 8-6.
3. Nicole Briceno/Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) def. Emily Carbone/Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 8-4.
Order of Finish (3,2*,1)

Way to go. Good start to the year.

SMU Women's Tennis Scores Big Win Over No. 17 Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (SMU)-SMU women's tennis (13-2) earned an impressive win (5-2) over No. 14 Arkansas on Wednesday, February 25 at the Dills Indoor Tennis Center, with freshman Marta Lesniak mounting a major comeback in singles to defeat (1-6, 7-5, 7-6) No. 4 Aurelija Miseviciute in her debut match as a Mustang.

The match began with No. 69 SMU setting the tone in doubles, sweeping the competition and taking down two nationally-ranked doubles teams. Freshman newcomers Lesniak and Aleksandra Malyarschikova paired up in the number one spot and subsequently claimed victory in tiebreaker fashion (9-7) over No. 12 Razorback tandem Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu.

The Mustang duo of senior Natalia Bubien and junior Pavi Francis recorded their second defeat over a ranked pair this season, ousting (8-6) No. 56 Miseviciute and Ela Kaluder. Junior Nicole Briceno and senior partner Kseniia Tokarieva remained on top of the ball, registering their sixth-straight win (8-4) over Razorbacks Emily Carbone and Kate Lukomskaya.

"We did exactly what we wanted to do coming into this match, which was set the tone with our doubles performance. We executed our game plan perfectly, and this was by far the best doubles we have played all season. We were aggressive, yet smart; two factors that enabled us to play at full strength," said head coach Lauren Longbotham-Meisner.


And set the tone they did, marching into singles play with confidence and determination. Lesniak's dazzling comeback win over Miseviciute further provided the Mustangs with momentum. "First of all, not only does Marta have the pressure of competing in her first collegiate match, now she also has to face off against the reigning indoor champion and top five player in the nation. Then, she loses the first set by a sizeable margin and mounts a comeback. I am so proud of her and her resiliency," said Longbotham-Meisner.

Playing in the number three spot for SMU, Malyarschikova recorded her first singles win as a Mustang by dropping Kaluder in straight sets (7-6, 6-0). Against Airapetian, Francis played an indomitable bout of tennis, handily picking up the win (6-4, 6-3) for SMU, while Tokarieva took care of business on her court, defeating Lukomskaya in a second set tiebreaker (6-2, 7-6).

"Before we headed into singles, I told the team that we needed to bring the same intensity and focus that we brought to doubles. We genuinely had to want the win more than they did, and we proved that we did. We fought 100% for every point; I don't know how to praise the team any higher. I am speechless, but at the same time so impressed and so complimentary. We want to be a Top 25 team, and that means we have to beat Top 25 teams. Is there a better place to start than here," said Longbotham-Meisner.

#69 SMU- 5 def. #17 Arkansas- 2

Singles
1. Marta Lesniak (SMU) def. #4 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark), 1-6, 7-5, 7-6(7)
2. #92 Anouk Tigu (Ark) def. Natalia Bubien (SMU), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
3. Aleksandra Malyarschikova (SMU) def. Ela Kaluder (Ark), 7-6, 6-0.
4. Pavi Francis (SMU) def. Nanar Airapetian (Ark), 6-4, 6-3.
5. Emily Carbone (Ark) def. Nicole Briceno, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
6. Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) def. Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 6-2, 7-6(2)
Order of Finish: (4,6,3*,5,2,1)
Doubles
1. Marta Lesniak/Aleksandra Malyarschikova (SMU) def. #12 Nanar Airapetian/Anouk Tigu (Ark), 9-7.
2. Natalia Bubien/Pavi Francis (SMU) def. #56 Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (Ark), 8-6.
3. Nicole Briceno/Kseniia Tokarieva (SMU) def. Emily Carbone/Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 8-4.
Order of Finish (3,2*,1)

ER9TC4 wrote:with freshman Marta Lesniak mounting a major comeback in singles to defeat (1-6, 7-5, 7-6) No. 4 Aurelija Miseviciute in her debut match as a Mustang.

Not a bad way to make your debut as a Mustang...by taking down the #4 player in the country (I assume that's a national ranking)?!? CONGRATS!

I'm a big fan of the great Pavi Francis

MUSTANGS DEFEAT ANOTHER RANKED TEAM AS YALE FALLS 5-2. GOOD OPPORTUNITIES THIS WEEK ON A CALIFORNIA TRIP BEFORE TCU COMES TO TOWN NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY @ 6:00.

MUSTANGS DEFEAT #38 UC IRVINE BY A 7-0 SCORE TODAY. BIG MATCH WITH PEPPERDINE WEDNESDAY.

Looks like women's tennis is on a serious roll.

Keep it going, Ponies!

MUSTANGS WIN 5-2 OVER PEPPERDINE. TCU MATCH @ HOME NEXT WED.

Great win!

Must be the coaching!