Lady Saints start Spring Season off right in Arkansas

By: Nacole Miller, Seward County Sports Information

ARKADELPHIA, AR – The Saints and Lady Saints tennis teams played at the neighboring schools of Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University Friday and Saturday with an undefeated Spring record so far for both the Saints and Lady Saints.

For the No. 3 Lady Saints on Friday against Henderson State it came down to one three-set match, but the Lady Saints tennis team prevailed in a thriller that chilly afternoon as the Lady Saints downed Henderson 5-4.

In doubles plays, No. 3 Yursa Hegy and Martina Borges came up shy, losing to Lorraine Banimataku and Lorish Puluspene of Henderson State 8-2. Shortly after No. 2 Steffany Bermudez and Maria Aveiga lost to Sydnee Parker and Mariah Bartlett 8-6. No. 1 Patricia Panta and Alena Macharova were able to give the Lady Saints their first win of the afternoon defeating Annie Shannon and Thea Minor 9-7.

In singles, first to finish was No. 1 Panta, who is ranked 8 nationally. She made quick work of her opponent Shannon 6-2, 6-1. No. 6 finished with Lady Saint Hegy taking a tough loss to Puluspene 5-7, 2-6. No. 5 Borges finished in a 6-3, 6-2 win against opponent Bartlett evening out the overall score 3-3 with three matches left to finish. 

No. 3 Macharova defeated Parker in a long back and forth sets 6-3, 7-6. This match came down to No. 4 Lady Saint Bermudez taking on opponent Banimataku in three sets. After taking a quick loss 1-6, Bermudez came back and won the next two 6-3, 6-4 giving the Lady Saints their clenching win. Final to finish was No. 2 Aveiga who lost against Minor 2-6, 5-7. 

On Saturday morning, the #3 Lady Saints faced Ouachita Baptist and left with their first undefeated match of the spring season winning 9-0. 

In double plays, No. 1 Panta and Macharova won 8-1, No. 2 Bermudez and Aveiga won 8-0 and No. 3 Megan Petr and Hegy won 8-1.

No. 3 through 6 singles all won both matches. Macharova defeated Phillips 10-8, 6-0, Bermudez defeated Hernandez 6-2, 6-0, Borges defeated Stanage 6-0, 6-0, and Hegy defeated Boyd 10-8, 6-0. 

No. 2 Aveiga won against Dinsmore in two long matches 10-8, 8-6 and final to finish was No. 1 Panta who won against Tabler 6-3, 6-2. 

The #3 Lady Saints are now 2-0 in the season and have an individual record of 14-4.