Athletics
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Tennis
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Men's and Women's Lion tennis teams compete in the Bi-state East division, Region II of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and will continue to do so through the 2008-2009 season. Beginning with the 2009-2010 season, all UA Fort Smith athletic teams will be members of the NCAA and compete at the Division II level.
In the 2005-2006 season, UA Fort Smith's first season of tennis competition, both the men's and women's teams won Region II championships and qualified for play at their respective national tournaments. The women traveled to Tucson, AZ and completed their season ranked #25 nationally. Following their national tournament play in Plano, TX, the men finished with a #20 national ranking.
The 2006-2007 season saw great improvement for both teams. Again, both teams won Region II championships and made trips to their national tournaments. An improved showing at the women's national tournament in Tucson saw the Lion women finish the 06-07 season with a #14 spot in the final NJCAA poll. The men's team followed with a tournament performance that left them in 10th place nationally, up ten spots from the previous year.
The fall 2007 season went well for both teams. The men's team returned it's #1, #2, #4, and #5 players, and the women's team returned it's #2, #3, and #5 players. Two new freshmen men and three new ladies were added to the family. The men were 2-1 in dual matches with their best win coming over NCAA DII Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Lady Lions went undefeated with a 4-0 record. They had wins over NCAA DII Harding University and Arkansas Tech University; NAIA Oklahoma Baptist University and NJCAA Seminole State.
The men's fall NJCAA National Ranking is #10 and the women are #11. Coach Huckelbury is excited about the upcoming Spring 2008 season and is expecting to do well with both teams.
The UAFS "Net Club", the tennis team's booster club, is going strong to raise funds and create support for the teams. Each fall season the Net Club hosts a tennis team mixer to raise money for the team's use. They provide food and beverages for all home matches and also started the Host Family program which matches each UA Fort Smith tennis player with a local family. Host families attend matches, provide general support, and are always there for the players in case of emergencies.
Both teams play home matches and practice at Creekmore Park Tennis Center, located at 3303 South M Street in Fort Smith. This excellent public facility, run by the Western Arkansas Tennis Association (WATA), has eight lighted outdoor courts and is located just five minutes from the UA Fort Smith campus.
Both men's and women's teams both have scholarships to be awarded. Many tennis players may quality for the numerous academic scholarships which UA Fort Smith offers as well.
For more information about Lion tennis, e-mail Head Coach Bob Huckelbury or call 479-788-7513.
News
| Lions Capture Seventh Place At National Tournament | Fri, May 16, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – After suffering a hard-luck loss in the first round of No. 3 singles play on Monday, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s T.J. Holmes rallied back to win the consolation championship on Friday in the NJCAA national tennis tournament at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.
Holmes, a sophomore from Owasso, Okla., beat Andy Green of Glendale Community College 8-4 to win the championship.
His win helped UA Fort Smith secure a seventh-place finish in the tournament – a considerable improvement from a year ago. The Lions, who made their third-consecutive appearance in the tournament, finished 10th last year.
Laredo Community College won the overall team championship.
“We really rose up to the occasion,” third-year UA Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury said. “Everybody played solid this week.”
Holmes also was a part of the Lions' No. 3 doubles team that advanced to the semifinals of winner’s bracket play late Thursday night. Holmes and his partner, sophomore Jay Noonan of Richmond, Texas, lost to No. 3 seed Thibaud Aime and Clay Cypert of Tyler Junior College in three sets.
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| Lions Battle Through Weather Delays At National Tournament | Thu, May 15, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – Once the rain ended about midday on Wednesday, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions continued their march through the NJCAA men’s national tennis tournament at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.
Rain washed out Tuesday’s Sweet 16 round, and it looked like the tournament would be delayed again on Wednesday until the skies cleared about noon. The Sweet 16 round got under way shortly thereafter.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Caio Cardoso beat Christian Ranguelor of Spartanburg Methodist College 6-0, 3-6, 10-6 to advance to the quarterfinals. The sophomore from Uberlandia, Brazil, then lost 6-4, 6-2 to Hleb Maslau of Hinds Community College, a surprise winner over No. 4 seed Dominic McLuskey of Tyler Junior College in the Sweet 16.
Lions No. 2 singles player Tiago Vilarinho of Uberlandia, Brazil, saw his tournament run end in the Sweet 16 with a 6-2, 6-1 loss to No. 6 seed Jaime Esteban of Vincennes University.
UA Fort Smith No. 4 singles player Ryan Harris saw his tournament run come to an end with a 6-2, 6-0 loss to No. 5 seed Evandro Rosindo of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Lions No. 5 singles player Evan Piche, who earned a first-round bye, upset No. 6 seed Matt Teichmiller of Central Alabama Community College 6-0, 6-3. The freshman from Houston, Texas, saw his tournament run end in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-1 loss to No. 4 seed Chris King of Vincennes University.
UA Fort Smith No. 6 singles player Nathan Bergmann, who earned a first-round bye, dominated Mitch Harmon of Central Alabama Community College 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. The sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., saw his tournament run end with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to No. 2 seed Luis Campos of Laredo Community College.
Later Wednesday night, UA Fort Smith’s No. 1 doubles team of Cardoso and Vilarinho was eliminated with an 8-5 loss to the No. 4 seed duo of Justin Flynn and Marco Linconir of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
UA Fort Smith’s No. 2 doubles team of Piche and Zach Bujnoch was eliminated with an 8-5 loss to the No. 3 seed tandem of Zack Goldsmith and John Haley of Tyler Junior College.
The Lions’ No. 3 doubles team of Holmes and Jay Noonan advanced to the quarterfinals with an 8-1 win over Stephen Elliot and Eric Schroeder of Glendale Community College.
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| Rain Delays NJCAA Men's Tennis Tournament | Tue, May 13, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Sweet 16 round of the NJCAA men’s tennis tournament was postponed on Tuesday because of rain.
Weather-permitting, the Sweet 16 round and the quarterfinal round will be played on Wednesday at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions have five singles players competing in the Sweet 16 of the winner’s bracket and one singles player competing in the quarterfinals of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith has all three doubles teams competing in the Sweet 16 round.
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| Lions Take Advantage Of Good Draw At Nationals | Tue, May 13, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s tennis team received a good draw in the NJCAA national tournament, and the Lions made the most of it during Monday’s first round at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.
The Lions finished the first round of singles play with a 3-1 record and went 3-0 in doubles play.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Caio Cardoso set the tone for the first round with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Kevin Serwatka of Temple College. The sophomore from Uberlandia, Brazil, will play Christian Ranguelor of Spartanburg Methodist College at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Lions No. 2 singles player Tiago Vilarinho followed with a convincing 6-1, 6-0 win against Blake Sherman of Meridian County Community College. The sophomore from Uberlandia, Brazil, will play No. 6 seed Jaime Esteban of Vincennes University at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday. Esteban had a first-round bye.
UA Fort Smith No. 3 singles player T.J. Holmes dropped a heartbreaker to Adam Rens of Johnson County Community College 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. The sophomore from Owasso, Okla., will play Erick Dobrzynski of Moraine Valley College at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation quarterfinals.
Lions No. 4 singles player Ryan Harris beat Jody Vinson of Itawamba Community College in three sets 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The freshman from Shawnee, Okla., will play No. 5 seed Evandro Rosindo of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
UA Fort Smith No. 5 singles player Evan Piche received a first-round bye. The freshman from Houston, Texas, will play No. 6 seed Matt Teichmiller of Central Alabama Community College at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
Lions No. 6 singles player Nathan Bergmann also received a first-round bye. The sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., will play Mitch Harmon of Central Alabama community College at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
The No. 1 doubles team of Cardoso and Vilarinho dominated Jorden Helstern and Matt Talunanond of Moraine Valley College 6-0, 6-1. They will play Justin Flynn and Marco Liconir of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College — the No. 4 seed doubles team — at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
The No. 2 doubles team of Evan Piche and Zach Bujnoch also won easily, beating Will Cundy and Erick Dobrzynski of Moraine Valley College 6-1, 6-1. They will play John Haley and Zack Goldsmith of Tyler Junior College — the No. 3 seed doubles team — at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
The No. 3 doubles team of Holmes and Jay Noonan completed the Lions’
first round doubles sweep with an easy win, beating Ruben Medina and Mark Pitzlin of Pima Community College 6-2, 6-3. They will play Eric Schroeder and Stephen Elliot of Glendale Community College at 2:15 p.m.
on Tuesday.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA MEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
At Collin County CC, Plano, Texas
Monday’s Results
Singles
Caio Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Kevin Serwatka, Temple, 6-2, 7-5
Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Blake Sherman of Meridian County, 6-1, 6-0
Adam Rens, Johnson County, def. T.J. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 3-6,
6-1
Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Jody Vinson, Itawamba, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
Doubles
Cardoso and Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Jorden Helstern and Matt Talunanond, Moraine Valley, 6-0, 6-1
Zach Bujnoch and Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Will Cundy and Erick Dobrzynski, Moraine Valley, 6-1, 6-1
Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Ruben Medina and Mark Pitzlin, Pima, 6-2, 6-3
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| Lions Ready For National Tournament Run | Fri, May 9, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – At first glance, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions tennis team’s record doesn’t appear that impressive.
UA Fort Smith finished the regular season with a 13-12 mark – a school record for wins in a season – but did so while playing some of the top NJCAA and NCAA Division II teams in the country.
“It’s a very good record, considering the brutal schedule of nationally-ranked (NJCAA) Division I and (NCAA) Division II teams,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “We played 11 dual matches against NJCAA teams ranked in the Top 17 nationally.”
The Lions had notable wins against No. 5 Seminole State, No. 8 Seward County Community College, No. 17 Meridian County College, No. 15 Central Alabama Community College, Southeastern Oklahoma State (NCAA Division II) and Oklahoma Baptist (NAIA).
“If we could have turned close 5-4 losses against No. 5 Seminole State (the second time), No. 7 Johnson County Community College and No. 11 Cowley County Community College, we could have been even higher in the rankings,” Huckelbury said.
As it is, the Lions will enter this week’s NJCAA national tournament as the No. 10-ranked team in the nation. UA Fort Smith will begin play in the five-day tournament on Monday at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas.
UA Fort Smith finished 10th in the national tournament a year ago, and given the right draw, the Lions could equal or better that finish.
Sophomore Caio Cardoso of Uberlandia, Brazil, is ranked No. 17 nationally and is 14-8 at No. 1 singles. Sophomore Tiago Vilarinho of Uberlandia, Brazil, is ranked No. 21 and is 18-10 at No. 2 singles.
Cardoso and Vilarinho are 9-5 at No. 1 doubles and are ranked No. 12.
Sophomore T.J. Holmes of Owasso, Okla., is 13-9 at No. 3 singles and is ranked No. 48, and freshman Ryan Harris of Shawnee, Okla., is 11-11 at No. 4 singles and is ranked No. 60. Freshman Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, is 14-15 at No. 5 singles and is ranked No. 60.
Sophomore Jay Noonan of Richmond, Texas, is 7-7 at No. 6 singles and is ranked No. 85, sophomore Nathan Bergmann of Broken Arrow, Okla., is 11-10 at No. 6 singles and is ranked No. 101 and freshman Zach Bujnoch of Katy, Texas, is 9-8 at No. 6 singles.
Piche and Bujnoch are 16-13 at No. 2 doubles and are ranked No. 24. Holmes and Noonan are 9-3 at No. 3 doubles and are ranked No. 39.
Harris and Bergmann are 5-4 at No. 3 doubles.
“We got a lot of production out of every player on the team, and that’s the reason we had such a successful (regular) season,” Huckelbury said. “It takes all players contributing to make a good team, and the guys have worked hard and deserve the recognition they are getting.”
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| Meyer, Curran Fall In Consolation Singles Championships | Thu, May 8, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s Aurelie Meyer and Christine Curran fell just short in their bids for consolation singles championships on Thursday morning in the NJCAA national tournament at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Meyer, a freshman from La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, lost 9-8 to Cassandra Kleber of Seminole State in the No. 2 consolation singles title match, while Curran, a sophomore from Fort Smith, lost 8-4 to Megan Smith of Florida Community College in the No. 3 consolation singles match.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
At Randolph Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Thursday’s Results
Singles
No. 2 Consolation Championship
Cassandra Kleber, Seminole State, def. Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 9-8(4)
No. 3 Consolation Championship
Megan Smith, Florida CC, def. Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, 8-4
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| Meyer, Curran Advance To Consolation Singles Championship | Wed, May 7, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – And then, there were two.
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s Aurelie Meyer and Christine Curran advanced to their respective consolation singles championship matches with semifinal wins on Wednesday morning in the NJCAA women’s national tournament at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Meyer beat Snead State Community College’s Jane Bohlman 8-3 to earn a spot in Thursday’s No. 2 singles consolation title match. The freshman from La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, will play a familiar foe in Seminole State’s Cassandra Kleber at 7:30 a.m.
Curran beat Johnson County Community College’s Marie Cellitti 9-7 in a hard-fought match to reach Thursday’s No. 3 singles consolation title match. The sophomore from Fort Smith will play Central Florida Community College’s Megan Smith at 7:30 a.m.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Maria Mendes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, saw her tournament run end with an 8-3 loss to Florida Community College’s Alexandra Glebova in the consolation singles semifinals.
Lady Lions No. 4 singles player McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., also ended her tournament run with an 8-4 loss to Lee College’s Maria Herrera in the consolation singles semifinals.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Wednesday’s Results
Singles
Consolation Semifinals
Alexandra Glebova, Florida CC, def. Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 8-3
Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Jane Bohlman, Snead State, 8-3
Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Marie Cellitti, Johnson County, 9-7
Maria Herrera, Lee College, def. McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-4
Thursday’s Matches
Singles
Consolation Championship
Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, vs. Cassandra Kleber, Seminole State, 7:30 a.m.
Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, vs. Megan Smith, Central Florida, 7:30 a.m.
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| Lady Lions Advance To Consolation Singles Semifinals | Tue, May 6, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team continued its march through the consolation bracket of the NJCAA national tournament on Tuesday afternoon at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
UA Fort Smith won all four of its consolation singles matches, but the Lady Lions were eliminated in doubles play.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Maria Mendes played through illness to beat Scottsdale Community College’s Rachel Hinze 8-2 in the consolation quarterfinals. The freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation semifinals.
Lady Lions No. 2 singles player Aurelie Meyer beat Temple College’s Stacey Bell 8-2 in the consolation quarterfinals. The freshman from La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation semifinals.
UA Fort Smith No. 3 singles player Christine Curran beat Hagerstown Community College’s Leah Mellott 8-2 in the consolation quarterfinals. The sophomore from Fort Smith will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation semifinals.
Lady Lions No. 4 singles player McKenzie McCullough beat Pima Community College’s Jenn Hamel 8-1 in the consolation quarterfinals. The freshman from Henryetta, Okla., will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the consolation semifinals.
The UA Fort Smith No. 2 doubles team of Meyer and McCullough saw its run in the winner’s bracket end with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Chade Scott and Calli Robinson – the No. 7-seeded doubles team – in the Sweet 16.
The UA Fort Smith No. 1 doubles team of Mendes and Curran also saw its tournament run end with an 8-5 loss to Central Alabama Community College’s Alex Mangum and Lauren Grogan in the third round of consolation play.
JUNOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
At Randolph Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Tuesday
Singles
Consolation
Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Rachel Hinze, Scottsdale CC, 8-2
Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Stacey Bell, Temple, 8-2
Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Leah Mellott, Hagerstown CC, 8-2
McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Jenn Hamel, Pima CC, 8-1
Doubles
Winner’s Bracket
No. 7 Chade Scott and Calli Robinson, Abraham Baldwin, def. Meyer and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2
Consolation
Alex Mangum and Lauren Grogan, Central Alabama, def. Mendes and Curran, UA Fort Smith, 8-5
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| Lady Lions Advance In Consolation Singles Play | Tue, May 6, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team’s luck changed a little on Monday at the NJCAA national tournament.
UA Fort Smith won all three of its consolation singles matches and will have four players competing in Tuesday’s consolation quarterfinals at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Maria Mendes won her first match of consolation play, beating Ali Brackey of Pima Community College 8-2. The freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, will play Rachel Hinze of Scottsdale Community College at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals.
Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith’s No. 2 singles player, won her first match of consolation play, beating Mia Doyle of Hagerstown Community College 8-1. The freshman from La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, will play Stacey Bell of Temple College at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals.
McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith’s No. 4 singles player, won her first consolation match, beating Tabitha Aguinaga of Lewis & Clark Community College 8-2. The freshman from Henryetta, Okla., will play Jenn Hamel of Pima Community College at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals.
UA Fort Smith No. 3 singles player Christine Curran of Fort Smith, who won her first consolation match on Sunday afternoon, will play Leah Mellott of Hagerstown Community College at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals.
UA Fort Smith’s doubles teams split their opening-round winner’s bracket matches on Monday.
The Lady Lions’ No. 1 doubles team of Mendes and Curran lost 6-1, 6-1 to Cowley County Community College’s Karolina Porizkova and Kasia Siwosz, who are the No. 1-seeded doubles team. Mendes and Curran will play at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the third round of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith’s No. 2 doubles team of Meyer and McCullough beat Moraine Valley Community College’s Alison Moore and Christina Ocampo 6-0, 6-0. Meyer and McCullough will play Chade Scott and Calli Robinson of Abraham Baldwin College – the No. 7-seeded doubles team – at noon on Tuesday in the Sweet 16.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
At Randolph Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Monday’s Results
Singles
Consolation
Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Ali Brackey, Pima CC, 8-2
Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Mia Doyle of Hagerstown CC, 8-1
McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Tabitha Aguinaga, Lewis & Clark, 8-2
Doubles
Winner’s Bracket
No. 1 Karolina Porizkova and Kasia Siwosz, Cowley County, def. Mendes and Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1
Meyer and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Alison Moore and Christina Ocampo, Morraine Valley, 6-0, 6-0
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| Lady Lions Receive Tough Draw At National Tournament | Mon, May 5, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury said one of the keys to success at the NJCAA national tournament is receiving a good draw. Unfortunately, his Lady Lions didn’t receive a very good one.
Four of the five Lady Lions drew seeded-opponents during their opening-day singles matches on Sunday at Randoph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
UA Fort Smith No. 1 singles player Maria Mendes received a first-round bye, but the freshman from Sao Paulo, Brazil, drew No. 4 seed Vanja Mickovic of Broward Community College in the second round.
Mendes lost to Mickovic 6-3, 6-0 and will play at 7:30 a.m. on Monday in the third round of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith No. 2 singles player Aurelie Meyer received a first-round bye, but the freshman from La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, drew No. 6 seed Cimen Soy of Nort Central Texas College in the second round.
Meyer lost to Soy 6-0, 6-0 and will play at 7:30 a.m. on Monday in the third round of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith No. 3 singles player Christine Curran drew unseeded Georganne Hageman of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, but Hageman prevailed 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round.
The sophomore from Fort Smith bounced back quickly, beating Emily Blackwood of Central Alabama Community College 8-5 in the first round of consolation play. Curran will play Leah Mellott of Hagerstown Community College at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith No. 4 singles player McKenzie McCullough drew No. 2 seed Sureena Weir of Tyler Junior College in the first round. The freshman from Henryetta, Okla., lost 6-1, 6-0 and will play at 7:30 a.m. on Monday in the first round of consolation play.
UA Fort Smith No. 5 singles player Kacie Wadley drew No. 8 seed Erica Herrera of Seward County Community College in the first round. Wadley, who’s from Ozark, Ark., lost 6-1, 6-2.
Because of the way the bracket was drawn up, Wadley had to play her first-round consolation match right after her first-round championship bracket match. She lost that match 8-2 to Amber Hendershot of Hagerstown Community College, ending her tournament run.
The first round of doubles play will begin on Monday.
Mendes and Curran received a first-round bye in No. 1 doubles and will play the Cowley County Community College tandem of Kasia Siwosz and Karolina Porizkova, who are the No. 1-seeded doubles team, at 1 p.m.
Meyer and McCullough will play Moraine Valley Community College’s Alison Moore and Christina Ocampo in No. 2 doubles at 2 p.m.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
NJCAA WOMEN’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
At Randolph Tennis Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Sunday’s Results
Singles
No. 4 Vanja Mikovic, Broward Community College, def. Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0
No. 6 Cimen Soy, North Central Texas, def. Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0
Georganne Hageman, Kalamazoo Valley, def. Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Sureena Weir, Tyler, def. McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0
No. 8 Erica Herrera, Seward County, def. Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2
Consolation
Singles
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Emily Blackwood, Central Alabama, 8-5
Amber Hendershot, Hagerstown, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-2
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| Lady Lions Eye Deep Run At National Tournament | Thu, May 1, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team won its most regular-season matches ever in its three-year history this season, and now, they will look to make a deep run in the national tournament.
UA Fort Smith, the NJCAA Region II runner-up, will begin play in the five-day event on Sunday at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz.
“We’re just going to go and play hard, have some fun and have a good time,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s always a fun trip.”
The Lady Lions finished the regular season with a 15-13 record and set a school record for wins in a season. They are currently ranked No. 13 in the latest national rankings, and four Lady Lions are ranked in the Top 100.
Freshman Maria Mendes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, finished the regular-season with an 18-15 record as the No. 1 singles player and is ranked No. 21. Freshman Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, compiled a 22-13 record as the No. 2 singles player and is ranked No. 25, Christine Curran of Fort Smith posted a 21-12 record as the No. 3 singles player and is ranked No. 55 and freshman McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., finished with a 20-12 record as the No. 4 singles player and is ranked No. 87.
The Lady Lions received a midseason spark with the addition of Kacie Wadley of Ozark, Ark., and Janie Price of Fort Smith. Wadley won five matches as the No. 5 singles player, and Price own seven matches as the No. 6 singles player.
The No. 1 doubles team of Mendes and Curran finished 11-12 and is ranked No. 13, and the No. 2 doubles team of McCullough and Meyer finished 20-11 and is ranked No. 34.
“Considering the hardships we’ve gone through, to be still be ranked 13th and have four girls in the Top 100 (in singles) is great,” said Huckelbury, whose Lady Lions’ roster was whittled to as few as four players at one point this spring because of injury and the unexpected departure of two players.
UA Fort Smith finished 13th in the national tournament a year ago, and with the right draw, the Lady Lions could equal or better that finish this season.
“When you get to nationals, it’s all about the draw,” Huckelbury said. “There are a lot of teams in there that we can beat, and there are a few teams we can’t beat. You just need a little bit of luck, and you need to play well and win the matches you should win.”
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| Lions Fall Short In Region Championship Bid | Fri, Apr 25, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas - Fort Smith sophomores Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho won their No. 1 doubles matches and their singles matches, too, but that wasn’t enough as the Lions lost 6-3 to the Seminole State Trojans on Thursday at Tulsa, Okla., in the NJCAA Region II championship tiebreaker.
Seminole State, which split the regular-season series with UA Fort Smith, won the region championship and will be the No. 1 seed from the region in the national tournament, which begins May 11 at Plano, Texas. UA Fort Smith qualified for the national tournament as the No. 2 seed from the region.
Cardoso and Vilarinho beat Andres Nunez and Anton Matveev 8-6 to win the Lions’ only doubles match. Cardoso then beat Nunez 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 1 singles match, and Vilarinho beat Andrew Carter 7-5, 6-4 in the No. 2 singles match.
Seminole State won the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches and swept the Nos. 3-6 singles matches.
Earlier in the week, the Lions swept Central Alabama Community College in a pair of nonconference matches at Memphis, Tenn. UA Fort Smith won the matches 9-0 and 8-1. The Lady Lions, who finished runner-up to Seminole State in the region, also swept Central Alabama College. UA Fort Smith won the matches 6-3 and 6-3.
The Lady Lions will begin play in the national tournament on May 3 at Tucson, Ariz.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
MEN
TUESDAY
UA FORT SMITH 9, CENTRAL ALABAMA CC 0
MATCH ONE
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Nemanja Brcan and Matthew Teichmiller, Central Alabama, 8-4
Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Jarrett Beasley and Mitchel Harmon, Central Alabama, 8-0
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Smith and Edward Baldwin, Central Alabama, 8-1
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Brcan, Central Alabama, 6-1, 6-3
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Baldwin, Central Alabama, 6-0, 6-2
Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Beasley, Central Alabama, 6-0, 6-1
Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Smith, Central Alabama, 6-0, 6-2
Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Teichmiller, Central Alabama, 6-4, 7-5
Nathan Bergmann, UA Fort Smith, Harmon, Central Alabama, 6-4, 6-1
WEDNESDAY
UA FORT SMITH 8, CENTRAL ALABAMA CC 1
MATCH 2
DOUBLES
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Jarrett Beasley and Mitchel Harmon, Central Alabama, 8-2
Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Nemanja Brcan and Matthew Teichmiller, Central Alabama, 8-5
Nathan Bergmann and Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Smith and Edward Baldwin, Central Alabama, 9-8
Singles
Brcan, Central Alabama, def. Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 7-6
Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Baldwin, Central Alabama, 6-2, 6-2
Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Beasley, Central Alabama, 6-0, 6-0
Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Smith, Central Alabama, 6-0, 6-0
Bergmann, UA Fort Smith, def. Teichmiller, Central Alabama, 6-1, 6-3
Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Harmon, Central Alabama, 6-2, 6-0
THURSDAY
SEMINOLE STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Andres Nunez and Anton Matveev, Seminole State, 8-6
Armando Morales and Brett Little, Seminole State, def. Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-6
Andrew Carter and Aaron Goode, Seminole State, def. T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 8-4
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Nunez, Seminole State, 6-4, 6-3
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Carter, Seminole State, 7-5, 6-4
Little, Seminole State, def. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 7-6
Morales, Seminole State, def. Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-4
Matveev, Seminole State, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-3
Goode, Seminole State, def. Nathan Bergmann, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
WOMEN
TUESDAY
UA FORT SMITH 6, CENTRAL ALABAMA CC 3
MATCH 1
Doubles
Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Grogan and Alex Mangum, Central Alabama, 8-2
Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Lindsey Eddy and Emily Blackwood, Central Alabama, 8-1
Kodi Bobo and Catherine Hackett, Central Alabama, def. UA Fort Smith, default
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Mangum, Central Alabama, 6-2, 6-1
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Grogan, Central Alabama, 6-0, 7-6
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Blackwood, Central Alabama, 6-3, 6-3
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Bobo, Central Alabama, 6-3, 6-1
Eddy, Central Alabama, def. Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0
Catherine Hackett, Central Alabama, def. UA Fort Smith, default
WEDNESDAY
UA FORT SMITH 6, CENTRAL ALABAMA CC 3
MATCH 2
Doubles
Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Emily Blackwood and Lindsey Eddy, Central Alabama, 8-0
Lauren Grogan and Alex Mangum, Central Alabama, def. Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-6
Kodi Bobo and Catherine Hackett, Central Alabama, def. UA Fort Smith, default
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Grogan, Central Alabama, 8-4
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Mangum, Central Alabama, 8-4
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Bobo, Central Alabama, 6-2, 5-7, 10-4
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Blackwood, Central Alabama, 8-3
Wadley, UA Fort Smith, def. Hackett, Central Alabama, 3-6, 7-5, 10-4
Ashley McCreight, Central Alabama, def. UA Fort Smith, default
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| Lions Split Region II Series With Trojans | Mon, Apr 14, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – After two regular-season matches, little has been settled when it comes to who will claim the men’s tennis NJCAA Region II championship between the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith and Seminole State.
UA Fort Smith beat Seminole State 6-3 in the first encounter between the two teams, but the No. 7-ranked Trojans eked out a 5-4 win against the No. 10-ranked Lions on Sunday morning at Creekmore Tennis Center to force a split.
Both teams will still advance to the national tournament, which begins May 11 at Plano, Texas, but as far as who will have the bragging rights as region champs, UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said a third match might be played in the near future at a neutral site to break the tie.
Seminole set the stage for its close victory by winning two of the three doubles matches. The No. 3 doubles team of Jay Noonan of Richmond, Texas, and T.J. Holmes of Owasso, Okla., posted the Lions’ only doubles win, beating Seminole’s Andrew Carter and Aaron Goode 8-6.
UA Fort Smith’s Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, both of Uberlandia, Brazil, bounced back from their No. 1 doubles loss to win their No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches, respectively. Cardoso beat No. 10-ranked Andres Nunez 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Vilarinho held off Carter 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.
The Lions, however, won only one more singles match with Zach Bujnoch of Katy, Texas, beating Jordan Johnson 6-2, 7-6 in the No. 6 singles match.
“Caio had a great win over No. 10-ranked Nunez. We were so close to winning against Johnson (County) and Seminole,” said Huckelbury, referring to the Lions 5-4 loss to No. 3-ranked Johnson County Community College on Saturday. “It was a matter of just a few points, and we could have won them both.”
The No. 12-ranked Lady Trojans won the Region II championship with their 8-1 win against the No. 11-ranked Lady Lions. Seminole beat UA Fort Smith 6-3 in the first conference match earlier this season.
Both teams will advance to the national tournament, which begins May 3 in Tucson, Ariz.
McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., posted the only win for the Lady Lions, beating Brooke Williams 6-1, 6-4 in the No. 4 singles match.
The Lions finished the three-match, two-day home finale 1-2, with their lone win a 9-0 triumph over No. 12-ranked Meridian County Community College on Saturday.
UA Fort Smith had an early lead on Johnson County in Saturday’s first match, leading 2-1 after the doubles matches. Cardoso and Vilarinho beat the Saints’ No. 1 doubles team of Dylan Gatton and Taj Harrison 8-3, and Holmes and Noonan beat the Saints’ No. 3 doubles team of Zach Alholm and Luis Sperb 8-6.
Though playing under blustery conditions, Cardoso beat Harrison 7-5, 6-2 in the No. 1 singles match, and Vilarinho beat Gatton 6-3, 7-5 in the No. 2 singles match.
“Whenever it’s windy, for me it’s already hard to kind of keep my mind together,” Cardoso said. “My mindset was to just go out there and focus on keeping my head. That’s what I did, and the game came together.”
Needing only one more win to seal the match, the Lions couldn’t pull off the upset and lost the remaining four singles matches.
“Though disappointed in the losses, we are showing progress in every position, and hopefully we’ll peak at nationals when it really counts,” Huckelbury said.
The Lady Lions finished the weekend 0-3 after a tough 5-4 loss to No. 18-ranked Johnson County in Saturday’s first match.
UA Fort Smith fell behind 2-1 after the doubles matches, but the Lady Lions picked up big wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches to even the match. Maria Mendes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, beat Claudia Voicu 6-2, 6-3 in No. 1 singles, and Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, beat Natalie Dejesus 6-2, 6-3 in No. 2 singles.
The Lady Lions, however, won only one of the remaining four singles matches. Janie Price of Fort Smith beat Jennifer Ackerly 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 6 singles match.
UA Fort Smith will return to regular-season play on Thursday at Ada, Okla., when it plays East Central University at 10:30 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
SATURDAY
WOMEN
NO. 18 JOHNSON COUNTY CC 5, NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 4
Doubles
Claudia Voicu and Shelly Barger, Johnson County, def. Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 9-7
Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Allison Bloom and Wati Msiska, Johnson County, 8-0
Marie Cellitti and Vika Schnose, Johnson County, def. Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-4
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Voicu, Johnson County, 7-5, 6-2
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Natalie Dejesus, Johnson County, 6-2, 6-3
Barger, Johnson County, def. Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0
Cellitti, Johnson County, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 4-6, 11-9
Bloom, Johnson County, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0
Price, UA Fort Smith, def. Jennifer Ackerly, Johnson County, 6-2, 6-4
NO. 10 MERIDIAN COUNTY COLLEGE 8, NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 1
Doubles
Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Alycia Le Merle and Ashton Hartley, Meridian, 8-4
Kelly Sterling and Katy Shoptaugh, Meridian, def. Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-3
Molly Moon and Daughtry, Meridian, def. Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-5
Singles
Le Merle, Meridian, def. Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 7-6
Sterling, Meridian, def. Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 7-6
Hartley, Meridian, def. Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-4
Shoptaugh, Meridian, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 7-6
Daughtry, Meridian, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1
Jodi Webb, Meridian, def. Price, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1
MEN
NO. 3 JOHNSON COUNTY CC 5, NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 4
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Dylan Gatton and Taj Harrison, Johnson County, 8-3
Zach Buenger and Adam Rens, Johnson County, def.
Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-0
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Zach Alholm and Luis Sperb, Johnson County, 8-6
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Harrison, Johnson County, 7-5, 6-2
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Gatton, Johnson County, 6-3, 7-5
Rens, Johnson County, def. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1
Buenger, Johnson County, def. Harris, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 6-2, 10-5
Sperb, Johnson County, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-4, 10-4
Keith Pipkin, Johnson County, def. Nathan Bergmann, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1
NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 9, NO. 12 MERIDIAN COUNTY COLLEGE 0
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Nicolas Zabrodiec and Blake Sherman, Meridian, 8-0
Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Elliott Clark and Dawson Dyess, Meridian, 9-7
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. David Shrock and Joe Otto, Meridian, 8-1
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Zabrodiec, Meridian, 6-3, 6-1
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Sherman, Meridian, 6-1, 6-2
Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Dyess, Meridian, 6-1, 6-0
Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Justin Newman, Meridian, 6-0, 6-2
Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Otto, Meridian, 6-2, 6-1
Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Shrock, Meridian, 6-2, 6-3
SUNDAY
WOMEN
NO. 12 SEMINOLE STATE 8, NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 1
Doubles
Sara Anic and Cassandra-Leigh Kleber, Seminole, def. Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 8-5
Nilsa Ramirez and Brooke Williams, Seminole, def. Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 9-7
Katie Arnold and Morgan Whitmire, Seminole, def. Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-1
Singles
Anic, Seminole, def. Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 7-6
Kleber, Seminole, def. Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3
Ramirez, Seminole, def. Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Williams, Seminole, 6-1, 6-4
Whitmore, Seminole, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0
Arnold, Seminole, def. Price, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0
MEN
NO. 7 SEMINOLE STATE 5, NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 4
Doubles
Andres Nunez and Anton Matveev, Seminole, def. Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, 8-3
Armando Morales and Brett Little, Seminole, def. Zach Bujnoch and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-6
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, Andrew Carter and Aaron Goode, Seminole, 8-6
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Nunez, Seminole, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Carter, Seminole, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
Little, Seminole, def. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Morales, Seminole, def. Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-1
Matveev, Seminole, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Jordan Johnson, Seminole, 6-2, 7-6
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| UA Fort Smith Tennis Teams To Play Home Finale | Thu, Apr 10, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – Fresh off a solid performance in last weekend’s Seminole State Junior College Tournament, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis teams will play their home finale this weekend at Creekmore Tennis Center.
UA Fort Smith will play Johnson County Community College at 9 a.m. and will play Meridian County Community College at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The No. 10-ranked Lions and No. 11-ranked Lady Lions will play Bi-State Conference foe Seminole State at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
“The weather really looks good,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “We really hope we can get some people out to watch. It should be some good tennis to watch.”
The No. 10-ranked Lions finished 2-2 in last weekend’s tournament, including a program-first win against No. 8-ranked Seward County Community College. The No. 11-ranked Lady Lions finished 2-1 in the tournament with a program-first win against No. 7-ranked Cowley County Community College.
“It was a big weekend, and it could have been bigger,” Huckelbury said. “You always want to try to beat the teams you’ve never beaten before.”
UA Fort Smith will have an equally tough task ahead of it this weekend. Every opponent is ranked in the Top 20.
Meridian’s men’s team is ranked No. 12, and its women’s team is ranked No. 10. Johnson County’s men’s team is ranked No. 3, and its women’s team is ranked No. 18. Seminole State’s men’s team is ranked No. 7, and its women’s team is ranked No. 12.
“We’ve never played Meridian and Johnson County,” Huckelbury pointed out. “They’re both pretty good teams, particularly Johnson County’s men. They are No. 3 in the nation right now, and they’ll be really tough. We’re capable of beating anybody on the right day.”
It will be the second Bi-State Conference meeting between UA Fort Smith and Seminole State, who are the only schools in the conference with a Division I tennis program.
The Lions won the first meeting with the Trojans 6-3 on March 26 at Seminole, Okla. The Lady Lions, who had beaten the Lady Trojans in a nonconference match in the fall, lost to the Lady Trojans 6-3.
The matches will decide the conference championship since there is no region tournament.
“Ryan Harris and T.J. Holmes have stepped up lately and really started playing up to their potential. Caio (Cardoso) has been nicked up all year, but he’s starting to round into form a little bit. Tiago (Vilarinho) has been solid all year,” Huckelbury said. “Our girls, we’re getting a pretty solid performance out of everybody. We’re getting some wins out of our five and six girls. Anything they get is a bonus for us. They are really trying hard.”
After this weekend’s home finale, UA Fort Smith will close the regular season with four road matches.
The Lions and Lady Lions will play East Central University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University on April 17 at Ada, Okla., and Central Alabama Community College on April 23 at Memphis, Tenn. The Lady Lions also will play Rhodes College on April 22 at Memphis, Tenn.
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| Lions Sign Bentonville Tennis Duo | Mon, Apr 7, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas-Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury added a pair of prep standouts to his 2008 recruiting class recently with the signing of Bentonville’s Andrew Todd and Martin Tabler.
Tabler and Todd were a part of a Tigers tennis program that posted a 50-0 win-loss record during the regular season over the past four seasons. Bentonville was the Class 7A state runner-up this past fall for the second-consecutive season.
A four-year singles player, Todd was the 7A state runner-up this past fall. He is a four-time all-conference player and earned all-state honors this past fall. Todd was undefeated in regular-season conference singles and doubles play during his varsity career.
Todd is currently ranked 12th in the Arkansas Tennis Association’s Boys 18 singles rankings. He was recruited by Middle Tennessee State, as well as other NCAA Division I and II programs.
Tabler finished his prep career with a 68-0 win-loss record in singles and 69-4 mark in doubles. He was all-state as a junior and a three-time all-conference performer. This past fall, he advanced to the state semifinals in doubles with partner Retz Chapman. The duo was state runner-up in 2006.
Tabler is currently ranked seventh in Boys 18 singles rankings.
Earlier this spring, Huckelbury signed Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo. Pohlers, who is a senior at Nixa High School, is ranked 44th among singles players in the USTA Missouri Valley Section.
Pohlers has been Nixa High’s No. 1 singles and doubles player for the past four years and was the 2005 and 2007 Central Ozark Conference singles champion and a doubles finalist in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
She posted a 22-7 win-loss record in No. 1 singles play this past fall.
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| UA Fort Smith Tennis Teams Post Impressive Wins | Mon, Apr 7, 2008 |
| OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s tennis team has posted some impressive wins against ranked opponents during the brief history of the program, but the Lions had never beaten Seward County Community College.
That was until Saturday.
The No. 10-ranked Lions won all three doubles matches on their way to a 6-3 win against the No. 8-ranked Saints to finish the two-day Seminole State College Junior College Tournament at Oklahoma City.
UA Fort Smith went 2-2 in the tournament with wins against Seward County and Eastfield Community College (8-1) and losses to No. 6-ranked Cowley County Community College (5-4) and No. 9-ranked Barton County Community College (6-3).
“It was a good way to end the weekend,” said UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury of the win against Seward County. “They came through in strong form, and it was a great win for the program.”
With a 3-0 lead after the doubles matches, UA Fort Smith put Seward County away with three singles wins. Caio Cardoso of Uberlandia, Brazil, eased by No. 31-ranked Mirko Perkusich (6-0, retired), Tiago Vilarinho of Uberlandia, Brazil, routed Michael Pettus (6-1, 6-2) and Ryan Harris of Shawnee, Okla., edged No. 65-ranked Luis Cabizuca (6-1, 7-5).
The No. 11-ranked Lady Lions also posted a program-first win during the tournament, beating No. 7 Cowley County Community College 6-3 on Saturday on their way to a 2-1 finish. UA Fort Smith beat Eastfield Community College (9-0) on Friday and lost to No. 5-ranked North Central Texas College (9-0) on Saturday afternoon.
“(Cowley County) is a team we had never come close to beating, and we stunned them,” Huckelbury said. “That was the highest-ranked team the Lady Lions have ever beaten.”
Against Cowley County, the Lady Lions duo of McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, beat Monica Medina and Thea Lonewolf 8-1, and the duo of Janie Price of Fort Smith and Kacie Wadley beat Cassie Powell and Elizabeth Galindo 8-0.
Meyer dominated Medina 6-1, 6-2 in No. 2 singles, Christine Curran of Fort Smith outlasted Lonewolf 6-4, 1-6, 10-7 in No. 3 singles, McCullough eased past Galindo 6-0, 6-1 in No. 4 singles and Price won the No. 6 singles match by default.
UA Fort Smith will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to Searcy, Ark., to play NCAA Division II Harding University at 2 p.m.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
WOMEN
SEMINOLE STATE TOURNAMENT
At Oklahoma City, Okla.
Friday
NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 9, EASTFIELD CC 0
Doubles
Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Rachel Schoner and Sofia Molina, Eastfield CC, 8-2
Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, def. Lidia Candia and Nancy Gonzalez, Eastfield CC, 8-0
Meyer and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Eastfield CC, default
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Molina, Eastfield CC, 6-2, 6-0
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Schoner, Eastfield CC, 6-1, 6-2
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Candia, Eastfield CC, 6-0, 6-0
Price, UA Fort Smith, def. Gonzalez, Eastfield CC, 6-1, retired
Wadley, UA Fort Smith, def. Lopez, Eastfield CC, 8-0
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Eastfield CC, default
Saturday
NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 6, NO. 7 COWLEY COUNTY CC 3
Doubles
Kasia Siwosz and Karolina Porizkova, Cowley County, def. Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 8-0
Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Monica Medina and Thea Lonewolf, UA Fort Smith, 8-1
Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, def. Elizabeth Galindo and Cassie Powell, Cowley County, 8-0
Singles
Siwosz, Cowley County, def. Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Medina, Cowley County, 6-1, 6-2
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Lonewolf, Cowley County, 6-4, 1-6, 10-7
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Galindo, Cowley County, 6-0, 6-1
Powell, Cowley County, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-4
Price, UA Fort Smith, def. Cowley County, default
NO. 5 NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS 9, NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 0
Doubles
Jo’Vanna Gaines and Cimen Soy, NCTC, def. Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 8-6
Nadia Solomon and Brittane’e George, NCTC, def. Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-1
Kylie George and Danielle Cochran, NCTC, def.
Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-1
Singles
Solomon, NCTC, def. Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2
Soy, NCTC, def. Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-1
B.George, NCTC, def. Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8
Gaines, NCTC, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-1
K. George, NCTC, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-0
Cochran, NCTC, def. Price, UA Fort Smith 8-3
MEN
Friday
NO. 9 BARTON COUNTY CC 6, NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 3
Doubles
Noe Losmozos and Artur Latypov, Barton County, def. Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, 8-3
Raphael Namias and Victor Pinones, Barton County, def. Bujnoch and Piche, Barton County, 8-4
Petr Grigorev and Roman Mendoza, Barton County, def. T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 9-7
Singles
Losmozos, Barton County, def. Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-3
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Latypov, Barton County, 6-4, 6-3
T.J. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Namias, Barton County, 4-6, 4-3 (retired)
Mendoza, Barton County, def. Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-2
Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Pinones, Barton County, 6-7, 1-1 (retired)
Grigorev, Barton County, def. Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3
NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 8, EASTFIELD CC 1
Saturday
NO. 6 COWLEY COUNTY 5, NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 4
NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 6, NO. 8 SEWARD COUNTY CC 3
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| Lady Lions Earn Big Win Against Missouri Southern | Sat, Mar 29, 2008 |
| JOPLIN, Mo. – What a difference a year makes.
The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith women’s tennis team didn’t win a match against NCAA Division II Missouri Southern University when the two teams played a year ago, but on Friday, the Lady Lions exacted a bit of revenge, beating Missouri Southern 6-3.
“It was sweet revenge,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said.
It wasn’t the best of starts for the Lady Lions, who dropped two of the three doubles matches.
Freshmen Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, and McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., teamed up to beat Lauren Skimbo and Janelle Queensberry 8-2 for the Lady Lions’ lone doubles win.
Meyer and McCullough improved their doubles record to 14-7.
“In doubles, we didn’t fare so well, but we did get an easy 8-2 win in No. 2 doubles,” Huckelbury said.
UA Fort Smith dominated singles play.
Freshman Maria Mendes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, outlasted Kati Anderson 6-7, 6-3, 10-1. Anderson was the No. 1-ranked player in Arkansas last year.
Meyer, McCullough, sophomore Christine Curran of Fort Smith, Ark., and freshman Janie Price of Fort Smith also picked up decisive singles wins. Price, a mid-semester addition to the team, won her fourth singles match.
“She’s a real competitor,” said Huckelbury of Price, who also plays volleyball.
The Lions’ match against Southwest Baptist University on Friday was canceled because of inclement weather.
UA Fort Smith will return to action on Friday, April 4, when the Lions and Lady Lions compete in a junior college tournament at Oklahoma City, Okla.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
WOMEN
UA FORT SMITH 6, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 3
At Joplin, Mo.
Friday
Doubles
Brittany Kockler and Kati Anderson, MSU, def. Christine Curran and Maria Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 8-2
Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Skimbo and Janelle Queensberry, MSU, 8-2
Alex Lewis and Brianna Tunnell, MSU, def. Janie Price and Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 8-5
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Anderson, MSU, 6-7, 6-3, 10-1
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Kockler, MSU, 6-0, 6-1
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Skimbo, MSU, 6-2, 6-1
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Queensberry, MSU, 6-1, 7-5
Lewis, MSU, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1
Price, UA Fort Smith, def. Tunnell, MSU, 6-0, 6-2
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| Lions Topple No. 7-Ranked Trojans | Thu, Mar 27, 2008 |
| Since there are only two tennis programs in the Bi-State Conference, every league win is big, especially when it’s against a team like Seminole State.
The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions swept all three doubles matches on their way to a stunning 6-3 win against the No. 7-ranked Trojans on Wednesday afternoon at Seminole, Okla.
“We’re very excited because they’re a good team,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “Winning those doubles matches was big.”
UA Fort Smith sophomores Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, both of Uberlandia, Brazil, eked out a 9-8 win against Andres Nunez and Andrew Carter in No. 1 doubles, and freshman Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and freshman Zach Bujnoch of Katy, Texas, teamed up to beat Brett Little and Armando Morales 8-6 in No. 2 doubles.
Lions sophomores T.J. Holmes of Owasso, Okla., and Jay Noonan of Richmond, Texas, teamed up to beat Anton Matveev and Aaron Goode 8-4 in No. 3 doubles.
UA Fort Smith won three of the six singles matches.
Vilarinho outlasted Carter 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to win the No. 2 singles match, Holmes edged Little 6-4, 6-3 in No. 3 singles, and Bujnoch eased by Goode 6-4, 6-0 in No. 6 singles.
“I’m pretty pleased,” Huckelbury said. “We’re all getting on the same page now.”
The Lady Lions escaped the Lady Trojans 5-4 during their match in the fall, but they weren’t as fortunate the second time around.
Seminole State won four of the six singles matches on its way to a 6-3 win against UA Fort Smith.
Lady Lions sophomore Christine Curran of Fort Smith, Ark., outlasted Nilsa Ramirez 0-6, 2-1 in No. 3 singles. Ramirez retired during the second set.
UA Fort Smith freshman McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., easily beat Brooke Williams 6-1, 6-1 in No. 4 singles play.
McCullough teamed up with freshman Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, to beat Cassandra Kleber and Katie Arnold 8-6 for the Lady Lions’ only doubles win.
UA Fort Smith will return to action on Friday with a pair of matches hosted by Missouri Southern University at Joplin, Mo. The Lady Lions will play Missouri Southern at 10 a.m., and the Lions will play Southwest Baptist University at 2:30 p.m.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
MEN
UA FORT SMITH 6, NO. 7 SEMINOLE STATE 3
At Seminole, Okla.
Wednesday
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Andres Nunez and Andrew Carter, Seminole State, 9-8
Evan Piche and Zach Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Brett Little and Armando Morales, Seminole State, 8-6
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Anton Matveev and Aaron Goode, Seminole State, 8-4
Singles
Nunez, Seminole State, def. Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Carter, Seminole State, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Little, Seminole State, 6-4, 6-3
Morales, Seminole State, def. Harris, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2
Matveev, Seminole State, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2
Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Goode, Seminole State, 6-4, 6-0
WOMEN
SEMINOLE STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3
At Seminole, Okla.
Wednesday
Doubles
Sara Anic and Nilsa Ramirez, Seminole State, def. Maria Mendes and Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, 9-7
McKenzie McCullough and Aurelie Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. Cassandra Kleber and Katie Arnold, Seminole State, 8-6
Brooke Williams and Morgan Whitmore, Seminole State, def. Kacie Wadley and Janie Price, Seminole State, 8-0
Singles
Anic, Seminole State, def. Mendes, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1
Kleber, Seminole State, def. Meyer, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Ramirez, Seminole State, 0-6, 2-1 (retired)
McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Williams, Seminole State, 6-1, 6-1
Whitmore, Seminole State, def. Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1
Arnold, Seminole State, def. Price, Seminole State, 6-1, 6-1
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| UA Fort Smith Tennis Teams Sweep Hendrix | Wed, Mar 26, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – Fresh off a lengthy spring break layoff, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith tennis teams resumed regular-season play on Tuesday afternoon with a pair of easy wins against Hendrix College.
The Lions shut out the Warriors 9-0 and the Lady Lions edged the Lady Warriors 6-2 at the Creekmore Park Tennis Center.
“We needed a match after spring break to kind of loosen us up a little bit,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “It was good to come back and get a little confidence-builder because we have two more tough matches coming up.”
And how.
UA Fort Smith will travel to Seminole, Okla., at 1 p.m. today to play Bi-State Conference foe Seminole State College. The Lady Lions eked out a 5-4 win against the Lady Trojans in the fall, but the Lions have yet to play the Trojans this season.
“They’re our lone conference foe,” Huckelbury pointed out. “There’s kind of a rivalry there. They want to win, and we want to win. So, we’ll see how it goes.”
Lions sophomore Caio Cardoso of Uberlandia, Brazil, won the No. 1 singles match rather easily, beating Will Matthews 6-2, 6-1, and sophomore Tiago Vilarinho of Uberlandia, Brazil, won the No. 2 singles match convincingly, beating Ryan Strickland 6-2, 6-1.
Cardoso and Vilarinho teamed up to beat Matthews and Strickland 8-1 in the No. 1 doubles match, too.
Lions freshmen Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and Zach Bujnoch of Katy, Texas, each won their singles matches and teamed up to beat Austin Kearney and Craig Thomas 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match.
Lady Lions freshman Maria Mendes of Sao Paulo, Brazil, won her No. 1 singles match against former Hannah Jackson 6-1, 6-1, and freshman Aurelie Meyer of La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, eased her way to a win in the No. 2 singles match, beating Anne French 6-1, 6-1.
Mendes and sophomore Christine Curran of Fort Smith, Ark., teamed up to beat Jackson and French 8-3 in the No. 1 doubles match. Meyer and freshman McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., teamed up to beat Abby Cape and Liz Blackman 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match.
“They needed that pressure situation and that match toughness,” Huckelbury said. “You don’t get that when you take 10 days off.”
JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS
WOMEN
UA FORT SMITH 6, HENDRIX COLLEGE 2
Doubles
Maria Mendes and Christine Curran, UA Fort
Smith, def. Hannah Jackson and Anne French, Hendrix, 8-3
Aurelie Meyer and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Abby Cape and Liz Blackman, Hendrix, 8-2
Singles
Mendes, UA Fort Smith, def. Jackson, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1
Meyer, UA Fort Smith, def. French, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1
Sabine Glawischnig, Hendrix, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Blackman, Hendrix, 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
Cape, Hendrix, def. Kacie Wadley, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-4
Janie Price, UA Fort Smith, def. Kate Stuppy, Hendrix, 3-6, 6-4, 10-5
MEN
UA FORT SMITH 9, HENDRIX COLLEGE 0
Doubles
Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. William Matthews and Ryan Strickland, Hendrix, 8-1
Evan Piche and Zach Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Austin Kearney and Craig Thomas, Hendrix, 8-2
T.J. Holmes and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Pascal Jacque and Ken Yang, Hendrix, 8-0
Singles
Cardoso, UA Fort Smith, def. Matthews, Hendrix, 6-2, 6-1
Vilarinho, UA Fort Smith, def. Strickland, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-1
Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Jacque, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-0
Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Thomas, Hendrix, 7-6, 6-1
Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Kearney, Hendrix, 7-5, 6-3
Bujnoch, UA Fort Smith, def. Yang, Hendrix, 6-3, 6-1
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| UAFS Tennis Set To Begin Spring Slate | Thu, Feb 14, 2008 |
| It’s been more than three months since the UAFS tennis teams last played a match, and they are eager to get their spring season under way.
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