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

[PonyPride]

SMU Women's Tennis Scores Big Win Over No. 17 Arkansas
Lesniak Trumps No. 4 Aurelija Miseviciute In Mustang Debut

Feb. 26, 2009

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.

[BUS]

Have out new tennis facilities helped recruit better players? To me they look awesome.

[centexstang]

Come out for the SMU vs TCU match on wed. @ 6:00. New rankings come out tues. and Mustangs should move up. Maybe even into the twenties. TCU is already there. A great chance to play a team that has been ranked high all year and should be good weather for tailgating and tennis.

[centexstang]

NEW RANKINGS: SMU #24