Lady Razorbacks Report

By Rob Keys

Posted on Thursday, March 27, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/220983/

Arkansas scores big in doubles

Michael Hegarty actually hit up sorority houses while looking for a player or two to fill out his roster in his first year as women’s tennis coach at Arkansas.

Four seasons later, Hegarty and the Lady Razorbacks are ranked 13 th nationally and riding a four-match winning streak — all against ranked opponents.

Part of the dramatic turnaround this season is easily explained. Junior Aurelija Miseviciute remains the nation’s No. 1 singles player and anchors a talented squad.

Arkansas’ “secret” weapon, however, has been highly efficient doubles play, Hegarty said. The Lady Razorbacks have won the doubles point (a best-of-3 format ) in 13 of 16 matches, including nine in a row, this season.

“We have some good experience, we have some really good newcomers, and we also have what not all teams have, which is exceptional doubles play,” Hegarty said. “The doubles point, even though it’s worth only one point out of seven, is the first point in a match and it really has an impact when you can get that doubles point more often than not.”

Arkansas seeks its first victory over Florida when it visits the fourth-ranked Gators on Friday, and plays at South Carolina on Sunday. Arkansas closes the regular season with matches against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and LSU — all of which are unranked.

“Right now as we move forward, the best part about our results is that the contributions are coming from every position,” Hegarty said. “When you start working toward the most important part of the season, which is at the end, if you’re having contributions from every position, you give yourself a really great opportunity to have a strong postseason.”

Golf update

The 12 th-ranked Lady Razorbacks golf team has had a strong season under first-year coach Shauna Estes-Taylor, finishing among the top five in three of four events. Now Arkansas gears up for postseason play even as it wraps up the regular season at a threeday tournament hosted by Wake Forest and North Carolina-Wilmington this weekend. “There’s some places we can improve,” Estes-Taylor said. “We’ve struggled a little bit the last few holes of each round, so finishing strong is one of our focuses, and also playing the par 5 s better. At Texas we played them several over par, and those are such great opportunities to make birdies and to catch up on the field.” Arkansas finished fourth in fields of 18 at tournaments hosted by Texas and Georgia over spring break.

Making waves

Arkansas sent three swimmers and one diver to last week’s NCAA Championships — the first time since 2004 the Lady Razorbacks have been represented — and three returned with All-America honors. Freshman Katie Kastes led the way with a ninthplace finish in the 200 fly — the highest NCAA result in Arkansas history — and a 15 th-place effort in the 500 free. Kastes’ victory in the consolation final of the 200 fly was roughly two seconds faster than her effort at the SEC Championships, and bettered her own school record.

Juniors Stephanie Carr and Madison Palmer placed 15 th and 16 th, respectively, in the 1, 650 free and one-meter spirngboard events.

Killer schedule

Arkansas’ softball team plays its third SEC series against a ranked opponent in five tries when it travels to No. 15 Georgia for a three-game set starting Saturday. “By the time you get No. 4 [Florida ] and No. 8 [Tennessee ] out of the way, you have a day off and get to play No. 15,” Coach Jamie Pinkerton said with a laugh. “It’s a gauntlet.” By the numbers BY THE NUMBERS 0-24 record The Arkansas in Top 25 tennis matches team’s in Coach Michael Hegarty’s four previous seasons. 4-4 Top The 25 Lady matches Razorbacks this season ’ record. in 13 Arkansas’ national rank.