| Morrow, Piche Earn Conference Academic Honors | Thu, Nov 12, 2009 |
| Two University of Arkansas - Fort Smith student-athletes have been named this week’s Heartland Conference Academic Student-Athletes of the Week. Jena Morrow, a junior golfer from Fort Gibson, Okla., and Evan Piche, a junior tennis player from Houston, Texas, earned the weekly honor, becoming the 10th and 11th UA Fort Smith student-athletes to earn the award. Morrow has compiled a 3.77 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. She helped lead the Lady Lions to a second-place finish in the Show Me Summer Shootout and a fourth-place finish in the Harding Bison Classic earlier this fall. Piche has compiled a 3.15 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. He advanced to the semifinals of doubles play in the Collin County Community College Fall Open and was 4-2 in singles play and 4-4 in doubles play during the Lions’ fall matches. UA Fort Smith student-athletes have accounted for 11 of the 15 academic student-athlete award winners this semester. Morrow and Piche join tennis players McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla.; Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock; volleyball players Lucia Najselova of Nitra, Slovakia; Heidi Luks of Tallinn, Estonia; and Fabiane Nass of Santa Catarina, Brazil; and golfers Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith, Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark.; and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla. | |
| UA Fort Smith SAAC To Conduct ‘Bundle Up Fort Smith’ Campaign | Tue, Nov 3, 2009 |
| With the winter season rapidly approaching, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council is doing its part to make sure needy people in the Fort Smith area won’t go unprotected when the temperatures begin to plummet. UA Fort Smith’s SAAC will conduct its “Bundle Up Fort Smith” community service project on Nov. 17 when the UA Fort Smith men’s basketball team hosts the University of the Ozarks Eagles in its season opener at 7 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center. Fans are encouraged to bring a coat, a pair of shoes or both with them to the game, and members of SAAC will be on hand to collect these clothing items at both entrances of the Stubblefield Center. The clothing items collected will go to help those in need to stay warm this winter. “With the winter season approaching, some people don’t have coats or jackets to stay warm or shoes to keep their feet warm,” said UA Fort Smith director of athletic compliance Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to do something to help those in need in our community and help improve their quality of life.” This project is a part of SAAC’s on-going community service project aimed at assisting those in need in the Fort Smith area. Earlier this month, SAAC members participated in a canned food drive to collect food for Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families in Fort Smith. The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations. SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year. | |
| Lady Lions Fare Well At Apache Invitational | Tue, Oct 27, 2009 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith freshman Abby Whittemore continued her strong fall performance this past weekend, winning the Gold Singles Division championship of the Apache Invitational in Tyler, Texas. Whittemore, who is from McAllen, Texas, beat Tyler Junior College’s Anna Zurek 6-3, 7-6 to win the singles title. Whittemore also teamed up with freshman Cara Gilham of Hants, United Kingdom, to finish runner-up in the Black Doubles Division, beating Tyler Junior College’s Brooke Dennis and Mariya Slupska 8-4. Gilham and freshman Emily Singleton of Cheshire, United Kingdom, advanced to the back draw finals of the Black Singles Division with Singleton winning the match when Gilham retired from the match. Sophomore Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, advanced to the semifinals of the White Division singles where she was beaten by Tyler Junior College’s Julie Bell 6-2, 6-1. Bryson teamed up with Singleton to win the Black Doubles Division back draw by beating Heather Harmon and Lauren Nielson of UT-Tyler 8-3. “Our women’s team had another very successful tournament and competed against some very tough teams,” UA Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury said. “There were Division I teams from Louisiana Tech and Stephen F. Austin. Tyler Junior College is a Top 3 team, Temple College is a Top 10 team and UT-Tyler is a Top 20 team in D-III.” Playing without their Nos. 1, 2 and 5 players, the Lions struggled a bit against a tough field. “This was a very tough men’s tournament with D-II teams like Ouachita Baptist, a Top 10 team; Drury, a Top 15 team; and Abilene Christian, a Top 25 team,” Huckelbury said. “Tyler Junior College is a Top 3 team, and Collin County Community College is a Top 5 team. Those are two of the best junior college teams in the nation.” Junior Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, is normally the Lions’ No. 4 singles player but played in the Black Singles Division, which was the No. 1 flight. Piche went 2-2 at the No. 1 spot. “Evan Piche had a very good singles tournament despite playing in the top flight and had two very good wins,” Huckelbury said. “Our doubles teams were all mixed up due to not having our regular partners at the tournament. It was good competition though and will make them all better.” COLLEGE TENNIS Apache Invitational Tyler, Texas Oct. 23-24 WOMEN Black Doubles Flight 1 Cara Gilham and Abby Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Harmon and Nielson, UT-Tyler, 8-3. Dennis and Slupska, Tyler JC, def. Tamra Bryson and Emily Singleton, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Gilham and Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. DeWitt and Ten Dolle, La Tech, 8-2 Gilham and Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Armente and Lewis, Temple, 8-2 Dennis and Slupska, Tyler JC, def. Gilham and Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Black Doubles Flight 1 (Back Draw) Bryson and Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Juarez and Vichery, La Tech, 8-2 Bryson and Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Evans and Kuzu, Collin County, 8-1 Bryson and Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Harmon and Nielson, UT-Tyler, 8-3 Gold Doubles Flight 2 Erofeyeva and Rodiquez, La Tech, def. Charlotte Delvaux and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Gold Doubles Flight 2 (Back Draw) Delvaux and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Baker and Gonzalez, Temple, 8-3 Caro and Weber, Tyler JC, def. Delvaux and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Black Singles Flight 1 Brooke Dennis, Tyler JC, def. Gilham, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-4 Ten Dolle, La Tech, def. Singleton, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Black Singles Flight 1 (Back Draw) Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Raven, Temple, 6-2, 6-3 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Nielson, UT-Tyler, 6-2, 6-1 Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Kuzu, Collin County, 6-2, 6-3 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Kapur, Stephen F Austin, 6-3, 6-1 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Gilham, UA Fort Smith, Retired Gold Singles Flight 2 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Bulls, Tyler JC, 6-1, 6-4 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Smolinkova, Stephen F Austin, 6-4, 6-3 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Erofeyeva, La Tech, 6-1, 6-0 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Zurek, Tyler JC, 6-3, 7-6 White Singles Flight 3 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Rittenhouse, UT-Tyler, 6-0, 6-3 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Anders, UT-Tyler, 6-1, 7-5 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Armente, Temple, 6-4, 6-1 Paucaut, Stephen F. Austin, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0 Bell, Tyler JC, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Red Singles Flight 4 McCullough lost to Weber, Tyler JC, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-0 Gonzalez, Temple, def. Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Red Singles Flight 4 (Back Draw) Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Wilkins, UT-Tyler, 1-6, 7-6, 10-7 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Gonzalez, Temple, 6-2, 6-2 MEN Black Doubles Flight 1 Lawson and Garza, Temple, def. Jay Noonan and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Plum and Rozenfeld, Collin County, def. Evan Piche and Brandon Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Black Doubles Flight 1 (Back Draw) Chirhart and Gonzales, UT-Tyler, def. Noonan and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-0 Piche and Underwood, UA Fort Smith, def. Garcia and Kacamakisz, Temple, 8-6 Hach and Marevic, Drury, def. Noonan and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Hawk and Strahl, Abilene Christian, def. Piche and Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 8-1 Gold Doubles Flight 2 Lascari and McDaniel, Tyler JC, def. Josh Helland and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Gold Doubles Flight 2 (Back Draw) Bishop and Velez def. Helland and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Helland and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Martinez and Stillman, Temple, 8-3 Vichione and Wright, UT-Tyler, def. Helland and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Black Singles Flight 1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Raul Garza, Temple, 5-7,6-2,10-7 Bryan Joiner, ACU, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 7-5,7-5 Jan Plewnski, OBU, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Eldad Campbell, Abilene Christian, 6-3, 6-3 Alex Kacamakisz, Drury, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-0 Black Singles Flight 1 (Back Draw) Chris Lawson, Temple, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 David McKinney, Collin County, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 2-6, 10-7 Gold Singles Flight 2 Gianmarco Velez, Tyler JC, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-4 Gold Singles Flight 2 (Back Draw) Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Kevin Wright, UT-Tyler, 4-6, 6-3,10-3 Austin Gonzales, UT-Tyler, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 7-6,6-1 White Singles Flight 3 Marco Lopez, Tyler JC, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-2,6-4 Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. T.R. Stillman, Temple, 6-2, 6-3 John DeVose, Tyler JC, def. Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Brett Proctor, Abilene Christian, def. Noonan, UA Fort Smith Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Matthew Vechione, UT-Tyler, 6-4, 6-2 Daniel Moser, Ouachita, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Red Singles Flight 4 Abraham Lascari, Unattached, def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-3 Dustin Foster, Collin, def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Guilherme Portela, Collin County, def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 7-6, 10-5 | |
| Lady Lions Dominate Division I Foe | Wed, Oct 21, 2009 |
| CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith women’s tennis team continued its successful fall season on Tuesday afternoon with a convincing 8-1 win against NCAA Division I University of Central Arkansas. It was the Lady Lions’ second win against a NCAA Division I opponent in the history of the program. UA Fort Smith beat the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff last season. UA Fort Smith, which is a provisional member of NCAA Division II this season, swept all three doubles matches. The No. 1 doubles tandem of freshmen Cara Gilham of Hants, United Kingdom, and Abby Whittemore of McAllen, Texas, led the way with an 8-5 win against Petra Keilova and Katie Anderson. The Lady Lions won five of the six singles matches with Gilham beating Keilova 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles match. The Sugar Bears’ only win was at No. 6 singles where Jordan Short beat Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, 6-1, 6-2. UA Fort Smith will close its fall season on Friday and Saturday when the Lions and Lady Lions compete in the Tyler Junior College Fall Classic in Tyler, Texas. COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 8, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 1 Doubles Cara Gilham and Abby Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Petra Keilova and Katie Anderson, Central Arkansas, 8-5 Emily Singleton and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Lindsey Short and Lisa Mainz, Central Arkansas, 8-3 Stanislava Harvanova and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Jordan Short and Alex Rios, Central Arkansas, 8-2 Singles Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Keilova, Central Arkansas, 6-2, 6-1 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Mainz, Central Arkansas, 6-0, 6-1 Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Anderson, Central Arkansas, 5-7, 7-5, 10-5 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. L. Short, Central Arkansas, 6-2, 6-0 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Rios, Central Arkansas, 6-2, 6-0 J. Short, Central Arkansas, def. Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2 | |
| Terrell Earns Conference Academic Honor | Tue, Oct 20, 2009 |
| A newcomer to NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s student-athletes have made quite a name for themselves in their new league. Junior Fabiane Nass and sophomore Cameron Terrell were named this week’s Heartland Conference Academic Student-Athletes of the Week, and freshman Sean Geraghty was named the Heartland Conference Men’s Cross Country Player of the Week. UA Fort Smith has had seven student-athletes earn the academic honor so far – junior tennis player McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla.; junior volleyball player Lucia Najselova of Nitra, Slovakia; sophomore volleyball player Heidi Luks of Tallinn, Estonia; sophomore tennis player Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; and junior golfer Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith. Nass, a junior right side hitter on the volleyball team, has a cumulative 3.75 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. The native of Santa Catarina, Brazil, played in 152 games as a sophomore and was third on the team with 343 kills, fifth on the team with 37 aces, third on the team with 257 digs and second on the team with 99 blocks. She was named to the MSU-West Plains Tournament of Champions all-tournament team and was named NJCAA All-Region II. She is currently second on the team with 251 kills, second with 104 total blocks and third with 214 digs. During the Lady Lions’ win against Texas Woman’s University on Thursday, Nass had a career-high 20 kills. Terrell, a sophomore on the men’s tennis team, has a cumulative 3.30 grade-point average while majoring in biology. The Little Rock, Ark., native was 14-17 while playing No. 4 singles last spring and was 19-9 as a doubles player. He was a part of a Lions team that was named a NJCAA Academic All-American Team. Geraghty earned his second weekly cross country honor of his young collegiate career. The Fort Smith native ran a time of 37:27.97 and finished 32nd among 576 male and female runners of all ages in the Open 10k event of the Chile Pepper Festival hosted by the University of Arkansas on Saturday at Agri Park in Fayetteville. | |
| Student-Athletes Help Make Food Drive Success | Mon, Oct 19, 2009 |
| Thanks to the hard work by University of Arkansas - Fort Smith students and student-athletes several needy families in Fort Smith will be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty meal. Fifty-two students and student-athletes went door-to-door throughout Fort Smith neighborhoods on Saturday collecting canned food items for Thanksgiving food baskets they will prepare for needy families. “One of the guys who was in my group was like ‘I feel really good that I used a Saturday to help people,’” said UA Fort Smith tennis player Cameron Terrell, who helped organize the food drive. “It was cool. That was pretty much the common sentiment among everybody. They were excited to be there and really glad they could help.” The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations. Terrell, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., said the group was really excited about the response. “Most of the people who were home were really excited about helping us,” Terrell said. “They were glad they could give, too. They were glad we included them in the giving process.” Initially, Terrell said the group had hoped to collect enough food to make baskets for 40 families but because of the overwhelming outpouring of support from the community that they now hope to make baskets for 60-75 families. The group is working with the Community Clearinghouse, which will provide them with a list of needy families. They expect to make their food basket deliveries the week before the Thanksgiving holiday. “We had a lot of help from Caring for the Northside and Sebastian Commons,” Terrell said. “Sebastian Commons provided us pizza, and Caring for the Northside provided the T-shirts and the transportation, which we really needed.” The door-to-door food drive also was a community service project adopted by the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council. SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year. Student-athletes representing men’s and women’s tennis and baseball participated in the food drive. “A huge part of SAAC is community service, and it was great to see our student-athletes jump on this opportunity to help a large number of people in our community,” said UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “Too often athletes are criticized for only wanting to do things for themselves, and it’s exciting that our athletes want to help others and be a positive influence in their community.” | |
| UA Fort Smith Student-Athletes To Conduct Food Drive | Fri, Oct 16, 2009 |
| Members of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will conduct a door-to-door canned food drive throughout Fort Smith neighborhoods from noon until 3 p.m. on Saturday. UA Fort Smith SAAC members, along with members of Caring for the Northside, will be collecting canned food for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Fort Smith. SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. SAAC also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year. | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Perform Well At Collin County Fall Open | Tue, Oct 13, 2009 |
| COLLEGE TENNIS 21ST ANNUAL COLLIN COUNTY FALL OPEN Oct. 9-10 At Collin County Community College, Plano, Texas MEN Singles First Round Danny Heidecker, Collin County def. Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Brandon Underwood, UA Fort Smith, def. Ryan Coffey, Seminole State, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 Beau Basham, UA Fort Smith, def. Josh Baker, USW, 6-1, 6-1 Doyle Springett, Seminole State, def. Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Phillip Allen, DBU, def. Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-4 Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Randy Baker, USW, 6-2, 6-3 Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Jon Kelley, ACU, 7-5, 6-1 Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, def. Jonathan Dicrisantis, OBU, 7-5, 6-0 Quarterfinals Underwood, UA Fort Smith, def. Oriol Cortes, SOSU, 6-1, 6-3 Basham, UA Fort Smith, def. Dennis Roy, ACU, 6-3, 6-3 Bryon Cole, Collin County, def. Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 7-5 Robert Martin, Seminole State, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Dustin Foster, Collin County def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Semifinals Rodolfo Bustamante, Collin County, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Basham, UA Fort Smith, def. Scott Milner, OBU, 6-1, 6-3 Doubles First Round Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Luke Hawk and Brett Proctor, ACU, 9-8, 7-6(3) Nestro Moreno and Vita Van Dijk, St. Mary’s def. Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 David McKinney and Guil Portela, Collin County, def. Beau Basham and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Quarterfinals Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Richard Abel and Bronson Vaughan, DBU, 8-5 Semifinals Bryon Cole and Damian Hume, Collin County, def. Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Consolation Quarterfinals Tabler and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Josh Baker and Richard Southern, USW, Default Basham and Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Taylor Perry and Connor Tebow, OBU, Withdrew Semifinals Tabler and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Kevin Longo and Travis Truax, SOSU, Default Basham and Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Shawn Cavazos and Luis Delgado, St. Mary’s, 8-0 Finals Tabler and Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Clint Baird and Nick French, DBU, 8-2 Basham and Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Nick Johnson and Robert Martin, Seminole State, 8-2 WOMEN Singles First Round Cara Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Brittany Turner, Arkansas Tech, 6-0, 6-0 Emily Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Mayra Leal, SOSU, 6-0, 6-2 Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Kelly Cooper, St. Mary’s, 6-3, 6-2 Abby Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Alena Erofeyeva, Louisiana Tech, 6-2, 6-3 Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Katie Halbesleben, OBU, 6-0, 6-0 Maartie de Wit, Louisiana Tech, def. Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-2 Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Bree Osburn, NCTC, 6-3, 6-2 Diana Lozano, Seminole State, def. Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-4 Quarterfinals Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Fatma Kuzu, Collin County, 6-2, 6-0 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Paola Costa, OBU, 5-7, 7-5, 10-7 Cecile Vichery, Louisiana Tech, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Camber Robinett, OBU, 6-0, 6-1 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Sophie Molina, SOSU, 6-1, 6-1 Nina Greenway, Arkansas Tech, def. McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8 Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Maria Volokhova, SOSU, 6-4, 6-2 Semifinals Natalie Friend, ACU, def. Gilham, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 6-4, 10-3 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Cimen Soy, NCTC, 6-4, 7-5 Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Erica Carmona, St. Mary’s, 6-1, 6-2 Hannah Kelley, ACU, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0 Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Megan Billings, DBU, 6-2, 6-4 Finals Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Samantha Attard, unattached, 6-3, 6-0 Laura Rodriguez, Louisiana Tech, def. Curran, UA Fort Smith, Default Doubles First Round Cara Gilham and Emily Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. Lindsey Hoffman and Andrea Vinegas, USW, 8-1 Stanislava Harvanova and Abby Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Baileigh Darnell and Alisha Lorren, Collin County, 8-2 Tamra Bryson and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Tracy Schnack and Jenn Wooland, NCTC, 8-5 Christine Curran and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Meagan Childers and Nina Greenway, Arkansas Tech, 8-6 Sophie Molina and Amber Thompson, SOSU, def. Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, and Brooke Mowery, unattached, 8-2 Quarterfinals Mariel Alvarez and Elle Martin, NCTC, def. Gilham and Singleton, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 Harvanova and Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, def. Natalie Friend and Madison Hudson, ACU, 9-7 Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Jessica James and Michelle Yu, Arkansas Tech, 8-6 Delvaux and Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Christina Labarre and Diana Lozano, Seminole State, 8-2 Semifinals Jacklyn Lahari and Morgen Shaw, unattached, def. Harvanova and Whittemore, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Tavu Fa and Megan Ruggles, Ouachita, 8-2 Sophie Molina and Amber Thompson, SOSU, def. Delvaux and Curran, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Finals Lahari and Shaw, unattached, def. Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Consolation First Round Blackim, UA Fort Smith, and Mowery, Unattached, def. Courtney Cobb and Vanessa Rivera, unattached, 8-3 Quarterfinals Amber Evans and Fatma Kuzu, Collin County, def. Gilham and Singleton, UA Fort Smith, Default Blackim, UA Fort Smith, and Mowery, unattached, def. Golcalves and Schmidt, SOSU, Default Semifinals Blackim, UA Fort Smith, and Mowery, unattached, def. Meagan Childers and Nina Greenway, Arkansas Tech, 8-3 Finals Blackim, UA Fort Smith, and Mowery, unattached, def. Maria Volokhova, SOSU, and Thoko Zulu, Ouachita, 8-4 | |
| UA Fort Smith Tennis Players Sweep City Championships | Wed, Sep 30, 2009 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis players won the recent Fort Smith City Doubles Championships and the Mixed Doubles Championships at Fort Smith Athletic Club. Junior Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and sophomore Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, beat Mike and Chris Coleman 6-4, 7-5 in the finals of the Doubles Championship. Sophomore Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, and junior T.J. Holmes of Owasso, Okla., beat their teammates, junior McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and Piche, 6-3, 6-3 in the finals of the Mixed Doubles Championship. | |
| Lady Lions, Lions Compete In Exhibition Play | Wed, Sep 30, 2009 |
| WOMEN EXHIBITION UA FORT SMITH 6, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 1 At Shawnee, Okla. Sept. 29 Doubles Emily Singleton and Cara Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. P. Costa and C. Robinette, OBU, 8-2 Tamra Bryson and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. M. Rosa and D. Barnes, OBU, 8-6 Singles Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. P. Costa, OBU, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. M. Rosa, OBU, 6-3, 6-1 Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. C. Robinette, OBU, 6-3, 7-5 Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. K. Halbesleben, OBU, 6-0, 6-1 D. Barnes, OBU, def. Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-4 EXHIBITION UA FORT SMITH 9, SEMINOLE STATE 0 At Shawnee, Okla. Sept. 29 Doubles Emily Singleton and Cara Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Natalie Khakimova and Morgan Chissoe, Seminole, 8-1 Tamra Bryson and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. D.J. Cunningham and Joanna Torres, Seminole, 8-4 Stanislava Harvanova and Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Diana Lozano and Christina Lebarre, Seminole, 8-2 Singles Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Khakimova, Seminole, 6-2, 6-1 Singleton, UA Fort Smith, def. LaBarre, Seminole, 6-0, 6-1 Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Lozano, Seminole, 6-0, 6-0 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Torres, Seminole, 6-1, 6-0 Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Chissoe, Seminole, 6-1, 6-0 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Cunningham, Seminole, 6-2, 6-4 MEN EXHIBITION SEMINOLE STATE 7, UA FORT SMITH 2 At Shawnee, Okla. Sept. 29 Doubles Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Mbonisi Ndimande and Ryan Coffey, Seminole, 8-3 Martin Arguello and Corey Huggins, Seminole State, def. Brandon Underwood and T.J. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Robert Martin and Doyle Springett, Seminole State, def. Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 8-1 Singles Ndimande, Seminole, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Arguello, Seminole, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Coffey, Seminole, 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 Bryan Canavan, Seminole, def. Beau Basham, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-4 Springett, Seminole, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-2 Huggins, Seminole, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-4 EXHIBITION UA FORT SMITH 6, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 3 At Shawnee, Okla. Sept. 29 Doubles Schaeffer and Scacalossi, OBU, def. Even Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 Brandon Underwood and T.J. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Milner and Babic, OBU, 8-5 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tableer, UA Fort Smith, def. Cananan and Perry, OBU, 8-3 Singles da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Babic, OBU, 6-2, 6-3 Underwood, UA Fort Smith, def. Bruno, OBU, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 Scott, OBU, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 3-6, 10-5 Gustavo, OBU, def. Basham, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael, OBU, 4-6, 7-6, 10-7 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Conner, OBU, 6-2, 6-1 | |
| Da Silva Earns Heartland Conference Academic Honor | Tue, Sep 29, 2009 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith sophomores Heidi Luks and Matheus da Silva have been named the Heartland Conference Academic Student-Athletes of the Week. They are UA Fort Smith’s fourth and fifth student-athletes to earn the weekly honor, joining junior tennis player McKenzie McCullough, junior volleyball player Lucia Najselova and junior golfer Ethan Adamson. Luks, a volleyball player from Tallinn, Estonia, has a cumulative 3.87 grade-point average while majoring in marketing. She played in 141 games as a freshman and was second on the team with 345 kills and third with 52 aces. She was second on the team with 393 digs and third with 87 blocks. She was the MVP of the MSU-West Plains Grizzly Invitational and was named NJCAA All-Region II. She was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team at the national tournament. She helped lead the Lady Lions to a 44-4 record, the Bi-State Conference regular-season title, the NJCAA Region II tournament title and a runner-up finish in the national tournament. Luks currently leads the Lady Lions with 165 kills and 62 total blocks and is second with 171 digs. Da Silva, a tennis player from Brasilia, Brazil, has a cumulative 3.70 grade-point average while majoring in business. He compiled a 22-14 record at No. 2 singles and an 18-15 record at No. 1 doubles last year. He advanced to the quarterfinals of singles play in the NJCAA national tournament and was a part of a doubles team that advanced to the semifinals of the national tournament. He was ranked as the No. 35 NJCAA singles player in the nation by the ITA last spring and was a part of the No. 12-ranked doubles team. He was a part of a Lions tennis team that was named a NJCAA Academic All-American Team. | |
| Lady Lions, Lions Split Exhibition Matches | Mon, Sep 28, 2009 |
| WOMEN EXHIBITION UA Fort Smith 11, Cowley County 3 At Tulsa, Okla. Doubles Adrijana Pavlovic and Jessica Montemayor, Cowley County, def. Cara Gilham and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Stanislava Harvanova and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Jamie Blackim and Natalia Medina, Cowley County, 8-5 Charlotte Delvaux and Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Wrylie Finkle and Brittney Laner, Cowley County, 8-2 Jennie Blackim and Christine Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Kalena Pate and Brittney Berryman, Cowley County, 8-2 McCullough and Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Finkle and Laner, Cowley County, 8-1 Gilham and Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Jamie Blackim and Montemayor, Cowley County, 9-7 Singles Gilham, UA Fort Smith, def. Pavlovic, Cowley County, 6-3, 6-2 Montemayor, Cowley County, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 1-6, 10-3 Jamie Blackim, Cowley County, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Medina, Cowley County, 6-2, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Finkle, Cowley County, 7-6, 6-1 Curran, UA Fort Smith, def. Laner, Cowley County, 6-7, 6-0, 12-10 Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Berryman, Cowley County, 6-2, 7-6 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Shannon Franz, UA Fort Smith, 8-0 MEN EXHIBITION Cowley County 8, UA Fort Smith 5 At Tulsa, Okla. Doubles Lloyd Bruce-Burgess and Alex Dickson, Cowley County, def. Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Brandon Underwood and T.J. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, def. Felipe Pimenta and Renato Mendes, Cowley County, 9-8 Tom Gibaud and Roger White, Cowley County, def. Cameron Terrell and Jay Noonan, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Martin Tabler and Beau Basham, UA Fort Smith, def. Bates Baldwin and Richard Lee, Cowley County, 8-0 Singles Bruce-Burgess, Cowley County, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-7, 10-5 White, Cowley County, def. Underwood, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Dickson, Cowley County, 5-7, 6-4, 10-4 Mendes, Cowley County, def. Basham, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 7-6, 10-6 Pimenta, Cowley County, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 7-5 Gibaud, Cowley County, def. Holmes, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Noonan, UA Fort Smith, def. Baldwin, Cowley County, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 Evan Daniel, Cowley County, def. Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Samir Haikal, Cowley County, 6-3, 6-2 | |
| McCullough Named Heartland Conference Academic Athlete Of The Week | Mon, Sep 14, 2009 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s McKenzie McCullough has been named the Heartland Conference Women’s Academic Athlete of the Week. McCullough, a junior from Henryetta, Okla., earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors this past spring after compiling a 3.62 grade-point average while majoring in biology. McCullough won the No. 5 singles consolation championship during the NJCAA national tournament this past spring. McCullough, who was one of the recipients of the UA Fort Smith/Rebecca M. Womack Distinguished Athlete Award this past spring, is president of the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. University of the Incarnate Word’s Shayn Weidner was named the Heartland Conference Men’s Academic Athlete of the Week. Weidner compiled a 3.88 grade-point average last spring while majoring in mathematics. He earned ESPN-CoSida Academic All-District honors, was the D-II ADA Academic Achievement Award winner and was a member of the Heartland Conference’s President’s Honor Roll. Weidner, who runs cross country, was fifth overall in the recent Texas State Invitational. Each week, the Heartland Conference recognizes one female and one male athlete who not only excel athletically but also academically with its Academic Athlete of the Week honor. | |
| McCullough, Tennis Teams Earn Academic Honors | Fri, Jul 24, 2009 |
| Two University of Arkansas - Fort Smith players and two teams recently earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors for their performances in the classroom this past year. Volleyball player Lucia Najselova and tennis player McKenzie McCullough earned the prestigious academic honor, along with the men’s and women’s tennis teams. “We are certainly very proud of the academic achievements of our student-athletes,” UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith said. “We are very well known for our success in each sport, and it is nice for our student-athletes to take great pride in being recognized for their efforts in the classroom as well. “Our goal in athletics at UA Fort Smith is to truly define the term ‘student-athlete.’ I expect all of our student-athletes to be great in the classroom, as well as on the playing surface of their respective sport. I couldn’t be more proud of our student-athletes for these great accomplishments.” Najselova, who will be a junior this fall, compiled a 3.71 grade-point average while majoring in psychology. The academic honor was the latest addition to a long list of honors earned by the setter this past season. The Nitra, Slovakia, native was a preseason first team NJCAA All-American, a regular-season first team NJCAA All-American and a first team AVCA All-American. She was the MVP of Region II, was the MVP of two tournaments and was NJCAA Player of the Week. McCullough, who will be a junior this fall, compiled a 3.62 grade-point average while majoring in biology. McCullough won the No. 5 singles consolation championship during the NJCAA national tournament this past May. “I am very proud of Lucia and McKenzie for their dedication to academics. They represent the university and athletic department very well with this recognition,” Smith said. “Our administration, faculty and staff should be very proud of these two outstanding student-athletes. It is our goal to ensure academic excellence from our student-athletes, and this is a great example of that being done.” The men’s tennis team compiled a combined grade-point average of 3.22, while the women’s tennis team compiled a combined grade-point average of 3.25. Teams must have compiled a combined grade-point average of at least 3.00 to earn All-American honors. “To have individuals named as academic All-Americans is a great honor, but to also have teams recognized as academic All-Americans shows the total team effort of individuals in the classroom,” Smith said. “This is a direct reflection of an entire team putting in the work it takes to be successful in the classroom.” | |
| NCAA Grants UA Fort Smith Provisional Membership Status | Thu, Jul 9, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith has moved one step closer to reaching its goal of becoming a full-fledged member of NCAA Division II. The NCAA has granted UA Fort Smith provisional Division II membership status beginning with the upcoming academic year. UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith received official notification from the NCAA during a conference call on Thursday afternoon. “A lot of work has gone into getting to this point. By no means is it over, but it is a huge step in the right direction and a positive movement for the institution and the athletic department,” Smith said. “A lot of worries have ended with this decision. We are one step closer to the prize, and that prize is active membership in Division II.” As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level this upcoming season, but its teams will not be eligible to compete for conference or region championships or participate in postseason play. Once the provisional year is completed, UA Fort Smith will be eligible for full active membership. That decision will be made by the NCAA in July 2010. Smith said he expects UA Fort Smith to be granted full active membership at that time. “In the whole process if (the NCAA) doesn’t feel that you have done what you are supposed to do, you repeat the year that you are on,” Smith explained. “I can’t ever say that (full active membership) is a done deal, but hopefully a year from this time, we can say that it’s a done deal and that we are an active Division II school. “We have the pieces in place, and I would not foresee them saying that we would have to repeat the third year (the provisional year).” UA Fort Smith announced its intentions to leave the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and pursue NCAA Division II membership prior to the start of the 2007-08 season. UA Fort Smith completed the first year of the two-year exploratory phase required for Division II membership and was given approval by the NCAA on July 24, 2008, to move to the second year of the membership process for the 2008-09 academic year. Two members representing the NCAA membership committee conducted a two-day, on-site visit at UA Fort Smith this past April, during which time they toured the campus and the athletic facilities and interviewed administrators, faculty and staff about the university’s academic and athletic policies and procedures. Their favorable report – as well as UA Fort Smith’s work throughout the early stages of the membership process – was instrumental in the committee granting the university provisional membership status. “My goal in this whole process was to do as much as we could on the front end to look and present ourselves as a Division II school,” Smith said. “We looked at a lot of institutions both in the state and in the region to give us some guidance and to set a standard for us to follow. “My whole philosophy was that ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Obviously, there are schools around us who have been successful as Division II schools. We wanted to implement some of the things they do, and (UA Fort Smith Chancellor) Dr. (Paul) Beran has given us great guidance in doing that and has been very supportive of that. I think the (membership) committee was pleased with what we have done.” This past spring, UA Fort Smith accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Conference and will begin competition in the league beginning this fall. The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west. UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin. | |
| UA Fort Smith’s Pillar Earns Region Coaching Honors | Tue, May 26, 2009 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith assistant tennis coach Brian Pillar was recently named Region III Assistant Women’s Coach of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Pillar, who’s from Fort Smith, has been assistant coach for both the women’s and men’s teams the past two seasons. This past season, Pillar helped guide the Lady Lions and Lions to their respective national tournaments. The Lady Lions finished 14th in the nation, while the Lions finished tied for 10th in the nation. Along with assisting UA Fort Smith head coach Bob Huckelbury, Pillar is a Professional Tennis Registry-certified associate instructor and has assisted with the development of tennis programs in the Fort Smith and surrounding areas. | |
| Lions Notch Top 10 Finish In National Tournament | Thu, May 14, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions' bid for a championship came up short on Thursday afternoon during the men’s NJCAA national tennis tournament at Collin County Community College. All three of UA Fort Smith’s remaining title hopefuls – one winner’s bracket contender and two consolation contenders – lost and were eliminated from the tournament, which was delayed a few hours Thursday morning because of rain. The Lions finished tied for 10th with New Mexico Military Institute. “That’s a pretty good finish, and that was what we were hoping for – a Top 10 finish,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “The tournament was much tougher than it was last year. There were a lot of good teams here this year.” Lions freshman Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, lost to Chris Lawson of Temple College 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles consolation championship. The duo of Olsen and freshman Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas, lost to Andrew Dobbs and David McKinney of Collin County Community College 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 3 doubles consolation championship match. The tandem of sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, lost 6-3, 7-5 to No. 2 seed Martin Cederqvist and Rasid Winklaar of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the winner’s bracket semifinals of No. 1 doubles play. | |
| Olsen, No. 3 Doubles Team Reach Consolation Championship Matches | Wed, May 13, 2009 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s Kane Olsen will play for the No. 1 singles consolation championship after a pair of impressive wins on Wednesday in the men’s NJCAA national tennis tournament at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. Olsen will play Chris Lawson of Temple College at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday in the consolation title tilt. The freshman from Hamilton, New Zealand, lost his first-round winner’s bracket match on Monday in third-set tiebreaker to Lloyd Bruce-Burgess of Cowley County Community College, but he rallied with three wins in the back draw to reach the consolation championship. Olsen beat Sam Hinze of Mesa Community College (6-4, 6-1) in the first round of consolation play on Tuesday and beat Will Cundy of Moraine Valley Community College (6-1, 6-0) and Lucio Cangiano of Meridian Community College in the consolation quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, on Wednesday morning. In other singles play on Wednesday, freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, lost to No. 2 seed Pier Pieracciani of Tyler Junior College 6-0, 7-5 in the quarterfinals of No. 2 singles winner’s bracket play and was eliminated. Sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, lost to No. 4 seed Chris King of Vincennes University 2-6, 6-4, 10-4 in the quarterfinals of No. 3 singles consolation play and was eliminated. During Tuesday night’s late singles matches, freshman Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., lost to Wade Henderson of Meridian Community College 6-2, 6-3 in the No. 5 singles consolation quarterfinals and was eliminated. Freshman Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas, lost to Matthew Teichmiller of Central Alabama Community College 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the No. 6 singles winner’s bracket second round and was eliminated. UA Fort Smith has one remaining doubles team in winner’s bracket play. The tandem of da Silva and Piche beat Roman Fulgenzi and Emilio Garcia of New Mexico Military Institute 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of No. 1 doubles winner’s bracket play. They will play the No. 2 seed duo of Martin Cederqvist and Rasid Winklaar of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at 3 p.m. on Thursday in the semifinals. The freshman duo of Olsen and Helland beat Scott Carter and Eric Wojtcuk of Paradise Valley Community College 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of No. 3 doubles consolation play and then beat Elliot Clark and Jeremy Perdum of Meridian Community College 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals. They will play for the consolation championship at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. The tandem of Tabler and freshman Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., lost to No. 1 seed Leury Arias and Moacir Santos of Laredo Community College 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of No. 2 doubles winner’s bracket play and was eliminated. | |
| Lions Take Advantage Of First-Round Doubles Draws | Tue, May 12, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s tennis team took advantage of its first-round draws in doubles play by winning two of three second-round matches on Tuesday during the NJCAA national tournament at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. Tuesday’s matches were delayed about three hours because of early morning rain and forced many consolation matches to be rescheduled for late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. The UA Fort Smith tandem of sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, beat No. 3 seed Javier Millan and Sean O’Grady of Scottsdale Community College 7-6, 6-2 in No. 1 doubles play. They will play Roman Fulgenzi and Emilio Garcia of New Mexico Military Institute at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of winner’s bracket play. The No. 6 seed duo of freshmen Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., beat Renato Mendes and Felipe Pimenta of Cowley County Community College 6-2, 6-4 in No. 2 doubles play. They will play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of winner’s bracket play. The duo of freshmen Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas, lost to No. 1 seed Mwalimu Phiri and Paolo Roessle of Tyler Junior College 6-4, 6-1 in No. 3 doubles play. They will play at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinals of consolation play. Da Silva beat Rodrigo Cardozo of Mesa Community College 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of No. 2 singles winner’s bracket play. He will play No. 2 seed Pier Pieracciani of Tyler Junior College at 8 a.m. on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. Terrell lost to No. 4 seed Jonas Imhof of Vincennes University 6-0, 6-2 in the second round of No. 4 singles winner’s bracket play, and he was eliminated. Tabler, who received a first-round bye, lost to Luis Sperb of Johnson County Community College 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of winner’s bracket play. He dropped into the consolation bracket and played Wade Henderson of Meridian Community College in an elimination match late Tuesday night. Olsen beat Sam Hinze of Mesa Community College 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of No. 1 singles consolation play on Tuesday and will play at Will Cundy of Moraine Valley Community College on Wednesday morning at a yet-to-be determined time. Also, Piche was scheduled to play his first round No. 3 singles consolation match late Tuesday night. | |
| Lions Earn Favorable Draw At National Tennis Tournament | Tue, May 12, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s tennis team received a favorable draw in the NJCAA national tournament, and the Lions have made the most of it so far. UA Fort Smith went 3-2 in singles play during Monday’s first round at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. Freshman Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., earned a first-round bye at No. 5 singles and will play at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday in winner’s bracket play. The Lions will begin doubles play on Tuesday after all three teams earned first-round byes. “Our men received a much kinder draw than the women did in their tournament, and we have our first seeded men’s doubles team ever,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “Martin and Cameron (Terrell) received the No. 6 seed in the No. 2 doubles flight.” Kane Olsen lost to Lloyd Bruce-Burgess of Cowley County Community College 6-3, 7-6 in No. 1 singles play. The freshman from Hamilton, New Zealand, will play Sam Hinze of Mesa Community College 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round of consolation play. Matheus da Silva beat Chris Copenhaver of Johnson County Community College 6-4, 6-3 in No. 2 singles play. The freshman from Brasilia, Brazil, will play Rodrigo Cardozo of Mesa Community College at 9:15 a.m. in the second round of winner’s bracket play. Evan Piche lost to Roger White of Cowley County Community College 6-3, 6-4 in No. 3 singles play. The sophomore from Houston, Texas, will play Tyson McGuffin of Scottsdale Community College at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday in the first round of consolation play. Cameron Terrell beat Chris Tapia of Hinds Community College 6-0, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play. The freshman from Little Rock, Ark., will play No. 4 seed Jonas Imhof of Vincennes University at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the second round of winner’s bracket play. Josh Helland beat Dustin Henslee of New Mexico Military Institute 7-6, 6-1 in No. 6 singles play. The freshman from Corinth, Texas, will play at Matthew Teichmiller of Central Alabama Community College at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the second round of winner’s bracket play. | |
| McCullough Wins Consolation Singles Championship | Wed, May 6, 2009 |
| Even with what UA Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury called a tough draw, the Lady Lions captured one championship during the NJCAA national tournament at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. After losing her first round match in winner’s bracket play, Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., won four consecutive matches to capture the No. 5 singles consolation championship on Wednesday morning. McCullough, who was a No. 4 seed, beat No. 7 seed Kayla Daughtrey of Meridian Community College 8-2 in the consolation semifinals and beat Annastasia Laing of Spartanberg Methodist College 8-4 in the championship. The sophomore is the first Lady Lions tennis player to win a championship of any kind at the national tournament. UA Fort Smith’s Tamra Bryson and Charlotte Delvaux had their bids for consolation singles championships end in the semifinals on Wednesday. Bryson, a freshman from LaPorte, Texas, lost 8-3 to Aline Ferreira of Hinds Community College in No. 2 singles, and Delvaux, a freshman from Flower Mound, Texas, lost 8-5 to No. 8 seed Katherine Kelly of North Central Texas College in No. 3 singles. The Lady Lions scored 15 ½ points during the tournament, which Huckelbury said would likely put them at “13th or 14th” once the tournament is completed. It was a solid finish, Huckelbury said, considering the Lady Lions’ draw. “We did well,” Huckelbury said. “We did the best we could do with the draw we got.” The Lions will begin play in their national tournament on Monday at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. | |
| Lady Lions Advance To Consolation Semifinals | Tue, May 5, 2009 |
| Three University of Arkansas - Fort Smith singles tennis players kept their bid for a consolation championship alive with quarterfinal wins on Tuesday afternoon in the NJCAA national tournament at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. Tamra Bryson advanced to the No. 2 singles consolation semifinals with an 8-0 win against Katrina Tiedeman of Harford Community College. The freshman from LaPorte, Texas, will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday for a trip to the championship match. Charlotte Delvaux advanced to the No. 3 singles consolation semifinals with an 8-2 win against Lindsey Bohne of Eastern Arizona College. The freshman from Flower Mound, Texas, will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday for a trip to the championship match. Kenzie McCullough advanced to the No. 5 singles consolation semifinals with a hard-fought 8-6 win against Austin Collie of Snead State Community College. The sophomore from Henryetta, Okla., will play at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday for a trip to the championship match. Freshman Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., saw her bid for a national title end with a 6-0, 6-1 loss to No. 1 seed Hagar Caro of Tyler Junior College in the quarterfinals of No. 4 singles winner’s bracket play. The No. 1 doubles team of McCullough and Bryson was eliminated with an 8-6 loss to Daria Egorova and Aline Ferreira of Hinds Community College in the quarterfinals of consolation play. The No. 2 doubles team of Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, who is from Mississauga, Ontario, advanced to the quarterfinals of winner’s bracket play with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Katye Shoptaugh and Ashton Hartley of Meridian County Community College. Pohlers and Harvanova were eliminated later in the afternoon with a 6-2, 6-3 loss to the No. 2 seed tandem of Chade Scott and Calli Robinson of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The No. 3 doubles team of Jennie Blackim and Delvaux advanced to the quarterfinals of winner’s bracket play with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Sarah Gaddy and Lindsay Farmer of Grand Rapids Community College. Blackim, who is from Broken Arrow, Okla., and Delvaux were eliminated later in the afternoon with a 6-4, 6-3 loss to the No. 1 seed tandem of Chelsey Lynn and Arianna Lopez of Jacksonville Florida Community College. | |
| Lady Lions Still Alive In NJCAA National Tournament | Tue, May 5, 2009 |
| Despite a less-than-favorable draw, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team is still alive in the NJCAA national tournament going into third-day play at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. Only one singles player has been eliminated from the national tournament, and one singles player and two doubles teams are still competing in winner’s bracket play. Shawna Polhers and Jennie Blackim were the only Lady Lions to earn a first-round wins in singles play on Sunday. Pohlers, a freshman from Nixa, Mo., beat Lauren Chmielewski of Oakland Community College 6-1, 6-4 in No. 4 singles play and drew Natalia Medina of Cowley County Community College in Monday’s second round. Pohlers beat Medina 6-3, 6-3 in a hard-fought match in 95-degree heat to advance to the winner’s bracket quarterfinals, where she will play No. 1 seed Caro Hagar of Tyler Junior College at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Blackim, a sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., beat Claire Massey of Meridian County Community College 6-3, 7-6(3) in No. 6 singles play on Sunday but was eliminated by No. 1 seed Madelyn Lumpkin of Tyler Junior College 6-0, 6-1 during Monday’s second round. The Lady Lions suffered first-round losses at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5 singles. Stanislava Harvanova lost to No. 2 seed Monika Lalewicz of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 6-0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play on Sunday. The freshman from Mississauga, Ontario, dropped into consolation play and was eliminated by Rachel Rossi of Marion Military Institute 8-2 on Monday morning. Tamra Bryson lost to No. 8 seed Frederique Suntrum of Lee College 6-3, 6-2 in No. 2 singles play on Sunday. The freshman from LaPorte, Texas, slipped into consolation play and beat Kelsey Harness of Kalamazoo Valley Community College 8-3 on Monday. Bryson will play Katrina Tiedeman of Harford Community College at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals. Charlotte Delvaux lost to No. 4 seed Courtney Spafford of Hillsborough Community College 6-0, 6-1 on Sunday in No. 3 singles play. The freshman from Flower Mound, Texas, dropped into consolation play and beat Chelsea Smith of Seminole State College 8-3 on Monday. Delvaux will play Lindsey Bohne of Eastern Arizona College at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals. No. 4 seed Kenzie McCullough lost to Jahyna Pope of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 6-1, 6-4 in No. 5 singles play on Sunday. The sophomore from Henryetta, Okla., slipped into consolation play and beat Lisa De Nardi of Oakland Community College 8-1 on Monday. McCullough will play Austin Collie of Snead State Community College at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the consolation quarterfinals. The No. 1 doubles team of McCullough and Bryson lost to Jessica McAtee and Alexandra Glebova of Jacksonville Florida Community College 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 and slipped into consolation play, where they will play at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The No. 2 doubles team of Harvanova and Pohlers beat Juliana Boas and Alyssa Larson of Seward County Community College 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the second round of winner’s bracket play, where they will play at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The No. 3 doubles team of Blackim and Delvaux beat Whitney Dancaster and Yury Pieczynski of Marion Military Institute 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the second round of winner’s bracket play, where they will play at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. | |
| Lady Lions, Lions Ranked In ITA Top 15 | Mon, Apr 27, 2009 |
| The UA Fort Smith men’s and women’s tennis teams are ranked in the recently-released ITA NJCAA national rankings. The Lady Lions are ranked No. 7 overall and No. 2 in Region III. Regionally, freshman Stanislava Harvanova of Mississauga, Ontario, is ranked No. 4 in singles, freshman Tamra Bryson of LaPorte, Texas, is ranked No. 11, freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, is ranked No. 21 and freshman Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., is ranked No. 25. In doubles, sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and Bryson are ranked No. 3, Harvanova and Pohlers are ranked No. 8 and sophomore Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Delvaux are ranked No. 13. The Lions are ranked No. 12 overall and No. 5 in Region III. Regionally, freshman Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, is ranked No. 5 in singles, freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, is ranked No. 15 and sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, is ranked No. 23. In doubles, Piche and da Silva are ranked No. 6, and Olsen and freshman Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., are ranked No. 14. | |
| Lady Trojans Nip Lady Lions in Region II Playoff | Mon, Apr 27, 2009 |
| The Seminole State College Lady Trojans beat the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions 5-4 on Sunday at Broken Arrow, Okla., to win a tiebreaker playoff and capture the Region II tennis title. Seminole and UA Fort Smith split the regular-season series to force the playoff to determine the region champ and the region’s top seed in the NJCAA national tournament. Both teams, however, will advance to the national tournament, which begins on Saturday at Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz. The Lady Lions put themselves in a good position to win the playoff after winning two of the three doubles matches. UA Fort Smith freshmen Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., and Stanislava Harvanova of Mississauga, Ontario, beat Diana Lozano and Joanna Torres 8-6, and sophomore Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., and freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, beat Christina Lebarre and D.J. Cunningham 8-6. Seminole dominated the singles matches, winning the Nos. 1-3 matches and the No. 6 match. Pohlers beat Chelsea Smith 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 4 match and sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., beat Cunningham 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 5 match for the Lady Lions’ only singles wins. Both the Lady Lions and Lions have qualified for their respective national tournaments. The Lions were swept by region champ Seminole during the regular season and also will be the region’s No. 2 seed in the national tournament, which begins May 10 at Collin County Community College in Plano, Texas. JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN SEMINOLE STATE 5, UA FORT SMITH 4 Sunday At Broken Arrow, Okla. Doubles Cassandra-Leigh Kleber and Barbara Oliveira, Seminole, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Diana Lozano and Joanna Torres, Seminole, 8-6 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Christina Lebarre and D.J. Cunningham, Seminole, 8-6 Singles Oliveira, Seminole, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Kleber, Seminole, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Torres, Seminole, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Chelsea Smith, Seminole, 6-4, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Cunningham, Seminole, 6-2, 6-1 Lebarre, Seminole, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-0 | |
| UA Fort Smith Sweeps Meridian County CC, Falls To Seminole | Sun, Apr 19, 2009 |
| JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 5, MERIDIAN COUNTY CC 4 SATURDAY At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Anna Vavrik and Kelley Sterling, Meridian, def. Tamra Bryson and Kenzei McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Katy Shoptaugh and Ashton Hartley, Meridian, 8-3 Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Kayle Daughtrey and Claire Massey, Meridian, 8-6 Singles Vavrik, Meridian, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Sterling, Meridian, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (2) Hartley, Meridian, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 Shoptaugh, Meridian, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Daughtrey, Meridian, 6-0, 6-2 Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Massey, Meridian, 6-0, 6-3 NCTC 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 SUNDAY At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Tamra Bryson and Kenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Brittney Osborn and Keri Beatty, NCTC, 8-3 Carmen Soy and Katherine Kelly, NCTC, def. Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 Jo’Vonna Gaines and Elle Martin, NCTC, def. Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Osborn, NCTC, 6-1, 6-1 Soy, NCTC, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-0 Kelly, NCTC, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-2 Gaines, NCTC, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 7-5 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Martin, NCTC, 6-3, 6-0 Beatty, NCTC, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-2 SEMINOLE STATE 5, UA FORT SMITH 4 SUNDAY At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Cassandra Kleber and Barbara Oliveira, Seminole, def Tamra Bryson and Kenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-1 Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Joanna Torres and Chelsea Smith, Seminole, 8-2 Jade Cunningham and Christina LeBarre, Seminole, def. Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Singles Oliveira, Seminole, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-3 Kleber, Seminole, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-4 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Smith, Seminole, 6-4, 6-0 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Torres, Seminole, 6-1, 6-3 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. LeBarre, Seminole, 6-4, 6-0 Cunningham, Seminole, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 MEN UA FORT SMITH 7, MERIDIAN COUNTY CC 2 SATURDAY At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Lucio Cangiano and Gabriel Nicotra, Meridian, 8-5 Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Andes Cepede and Wade Henderson, Meridian, 9-8 Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Jeremy Purdum and J. Clark, Meridian, 8-3 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Cangiano, Meridian, 7-6, 6-4 Nicotra, Meridian, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 7-5, 6-4 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Cepede, Meridian, 7-6, 6-4 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Purdum, Meridian, 6-3, 6-3 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Henderson, Meridian, 6-2, 7-6 Kyle Dew, Meridian, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 3-6, 10-5 SEMINOLE STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 SUNDAY At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Martin Arguello and Ryan Coffey, Seminole, 8-5 Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Armando Morales and Ivan Lidzar, Seminole, 9-7 Doyle Springett and Andrew Carter, Seminole, def. Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Singles Arguello, Seminole, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Coffey, Seminole, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 Morales, Seminole, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-0 Springett, Seminole, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 Lidzar, Seminole, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-5, 6-2 Carter, Seminole, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 7-5 | |
| Pohlers Continues Winning Streak Against UT-Tyler | Thu, Apr 9, 2009 |
| The streak continues for University of Arkansas - Fort Smith freshman Shawna Pohlers. The Nixa, Mo., native beat the University of Texas - Tyler’s Kelly Vann 8-1 in No. 3 singles on Thursday afternoon to extend her winning streak to 13 matches. Pohlers’ win helped the Lady Lions sweep the NCAA Division III Lady Patriots junior varsity team 9-0. Because of inclement weather, the tennis matches were played at Fort Smith Athletic Club instead of Creekmore Tennis Center and the pro-set scoring method was used for both singles and doubles matches. Pohlers, who normally plays No. 4 singles, hasn’t lost since losing to Collin County Community College’s Fatma Kuzu 6-2, 6-2 on Feb. 28. “That’s hard to do no matter who you play,” said UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury of winning 13 consecutive matches. “She’s playing really well. She’s a good No. 4, and she could probably play higher in our lineup. She’s very consistent and likes to win.” UT-Tyler only had four players, which led to UA Fort Smith (14-9) winning one doubles match and two singles matches by default. “It was good for our confidence going into the last five or six matches,” said Huckelbury, whose Lady Lions lost 6-3 to NCAA Division II Harding University on Tuesday afternoon. “Hopefully, we can continue to build on that confidence level and carry it on into the national tournament.” The Lions (14-8) were just as dominating against the Patriots, winning 8-1 in convincing fashion. UA Fort Smith’s only loss was an 8-5 setback by the tandem of freshmen Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas, at the hands of UT-Tyler’s Brad Fenter and Tim Pedrazza. Olsen exacted a little revenge, though, beating Dalles Darnell 8-5 in the No. 1 singles match. “We had one little blip, but overall, it was good practice against good competition,” Huckelbury said. “That will help them.” JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 9, UT-TYLER 0 At Fort Smith Athletic Club Doubles Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Kelly Vann and Morgan Wilkins, UT-Tyler, 8-0 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Blair Wilson and Kaitlin Andress, UT-Tyler, 8-5 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. UT-Tyler, Default Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Wilkins, UT-Tyler, 8-5 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Wilson, UT-Tyler, 8-2 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Vann, UT-Tyler, 8-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Andress, UT-Tyler, 8-1 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. UT-Tyler, Default Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. UT-Tyler, Default MEN UA FORT SMITH 8, UT-TYLER 1 At Fort Smith Athletic Club Doubles Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Tripp Farmer and Dalles Darnell, UT-Tyler, 8-3 Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Jordan Pepsher and Kevin Wright, UT-Tyler, 8-3 Brad Fenter and Tim Pedrazza, UT-Tyler, def. Kane Olsen and Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Darnell, UT-Tyler, 8-5 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Wright, UT-Tyler, 8-6 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Pepsher, UT-Tyler, 8-5 Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Farmer, UT-Tyler, 8-3 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Fenter, UT-Tyler, 9-8 (8-6) Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Pedrazza, UT-Tyler, 8-3 | |
| UA Fort Smith Splits With Harding | Tue, Apr 7, 2009 |
| Sometimes it takes an entire team effort to win, and the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions are proof of that after Tuesday’s match against NCAA Division II Harding University. The freshmen duo of Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler won their No. 3 doubles match and then posted pivotal wins in the Nos. 5 and 6 singles matches, respectively, to lead the Lions to a 5-4 win against the Bison at Creekmore Tennis Center. Terrell and Tabler beat the Bison tandem of Brett Hoch and Aldo Campos 8-3 in a lopsided match as the Lions won two of the three doubles matches. Their singles wins, however, proved even more decisive for the Lions, who went 3-3 in singles play. Terrell, who is from Little Rock, Ark., beat Hoch 6-2, 6-0, and Tabler, who is from Bentonville, Ark., beat Campos 6-2, 6-3. “That was the difference – winning those last two comfortably,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “I really expected to get the No. 4 (singles) match, too, but you can’t win them all.” Freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, beat Henrique Ruiz 6-2, 7-6 in No. 2 singles and teamed with sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, to beat Marco Ruiz and Henrique Ruiz 8-6 in the No. 1 doubles match. The Lions (13-8) swept the home-and-home series with Harding (12-5), beating the Bison 7-2 on Feb. 16 at Searcy, Ark. “We are always happy to beat a good team,” Huckelbury said. “We’ve got to keep playing better and working on things for the national tournament.” Huckelbury has no doubt seen enough of Harding’s Alicia Williams. The senior has been a nemesis of the Lady Lions since she was a freshman and continued wreaking havoc on them Tuesday. Williams teamed with Lola Pardo to beat sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, 8-2 in the No. 1 doubles match and beat freshman Stanislava Harvanova of Mississauga, Ontario, 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 1 singles match. Those wins helped propel the Lady Bison (14-5) to a 6-3 win against the Lady Lions (13-9), who also lost the first encounter with Harding 5-4. “They have a really good No. 1 player (Williams) who’s a senior,” Huckelbury said. “She’s beaten our girls for four years now, and I’m glad to see her go.” Harvanova teamed with freshman Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., to beat Gina Cielo and Karye Saegert 8-6 in No. 2 doubles – the Lady Lions’ only doubles win. Freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, beat Katherine Golik 7-6, 6-1 in No. 3 singles, and Pohlers beat Cielo 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 in No. 4 singles. “Charlotte and Shawna really played good matches at Nos. 3 and 4,” Huckelbury said. “They had one more girl in the lineup (Cielo) that was out the last time, and that moved everybody down a little bit. “That made them a little tougher at the bottom.” JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 5, HARDING UNIVERSITY 4 At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Marco Ruiz and Henrique Ruiz, Harding, 8-6 Olzhas Taniyev and Chris Beach, Harding, def. Kane Olsen and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Brett Hoch and Aldo Campos, Harding, 8-3 Singles Taniyev, Harding, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. H. Ruiz, Harding, 6-2, 7-6 M. Ruiz, Harding, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-3 Beach, Harding, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 7-6 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Hoch, Harding, 6-2, 6-0 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Campos, Harding, 6-2, 6-3 WOMEN HARDING UNIVERSITY 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 At Creekmore Tennis Center Doubles Alicia Williams and Lola Pardo, Harding, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Gina Cielo and Karye Saegert, Harding, 8-6 Haniel Gara and Katherine Golik, Harding, def. Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Singles Williams, Harding, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0 Pardo, Harding, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Golik, Harding, 7-6, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Cielo, Harding, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 Gara, Harding, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Janet Orgain, Harding, def. Silviya Topchiyska, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 | |
| Lady Lions Blank Missouri Southern | Thu, Mar 19, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team will carry a four-match winning streak into spring break after shutting out NCAA Division II Missouri Southern University on Thursday at Fort Smith Athletic Club. UA Fort Smith (10-7) beat Missouri Southern 9-0 and won all but one match in straight sets. “It’s a good way to finish up going into spring break,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “We’ve got a little winning streak going, and our record is looking better.” The Lady Lions set the tone early in the match, winning all three doubles matches by decisive margins. The No. 1 Lady Lions tandem of sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and freshman Tamra Bryson of LaPorte, Texas, beat Katie Anderson and Alex Lewis 8-0. The duo of freshmen Stanislava Harvanova of Mississauga, Ontario, and Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., beat Lauren Skimbo and Becca Sterling 8-1 in the No. 2 doubles. McCullough and Bryson improved to 15-12 in doubles play this fall and spring, while Pohlers and Harvanova improved to 11-5. Sophomore Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., and freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, beat Bri Tunnell and Audrey Buckland 8-2 in No. 3 doubles. Blackim and Delvaux improved to 11-5 in doubles action. In UA Fort Smith’s toughest match of the afternoon, Harvanova held off Anderson in a third-set tiebreaker to win a battle of No. 1 singles players. Harvanova, who improved to 7-10, beat Anderson 7-6, 4-6, 10-3. “That was a great match,” Huckelbury said. “Katie is a very good player. She was like the No. 1 player in Arkansas for a couple of years. It was a very good win for Stanislava.” Bryson blanked Skimbo in No. 2 singles (6-0, 6-0), Delvaux shut out Lewis in No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-0), Pohlers eased by Sterling (6-0, 6-0) in No. 4 singles, McCullough blanked Tunnell (6-0, 6-0) in No. 5 singles and Blackim edged Buckland (6-3, 6-2) in No. 6 singles. Bryson leads the team in singles wins with an 18-7 win-loss mark this fall and spring, while Polhers won her seventh singles match in a row to improve to 17-9. JUNIOR COLLEGE WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 9, MISSOURI SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY 0 At Fort Smith Athletic Club Thursday Doubles Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Katie Anderson and Alex Lewis, MSU, 8-0 Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Skimbo and Becca Sterling, MSU, 8-1 Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Bri Tunnell and Audrey Buckland, MSU, 8-2 Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Anderson, MSU, 7-6, 4-6, 10-3 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Skimbo, MSU, 6-0, 6-0 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Lewis, MSU, 6-0, 6-0 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Sterling, MSU, 6-0, 6-0 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Tunnell, MSU, 6-0, 6-0 Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Buckland, MSU, 6-3, 6-2 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Sweep Hendrix College | Tue, Mar 17, 2009 |
| WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 6, HENDRIX COLLEGE 3 At Creekmore Tennis Center Tuesday Doubles Claire Mesnil and Kwynn Biggs, Hendrix, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Stanislava Harvanova and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Abby Cape and Caitlin Stevens, Hendrix, 8-1 Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Kristi Vo and Kate Stuppy, Hendrix, 8-0 Singles Mesnil, Hendrix, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-2 Biggs, Hendrix, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 2-6, 3-10 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Stevens, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-3 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Cape, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Vo, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1 Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Schuler, Hendrix, 6-0, 7-5 MEN UA FORT SMITH 9, HENDRIX COLLEGE 0 At Creekmore Tennis Center Tuesday Doubles Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Gardner and Ryan Strickland, Hendrix, 8-3 Kane Olsen and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Craig Thomas and Austin Kearney, Hendrix, 8-0 Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Kent Dunson and Ben Thomas, Hendrix, 8-3 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Gardner, Hendrix, 7-6, 6-1 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Strickland, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-0 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. C. Thomas, Hendrix, 6-3, 6-2 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Kearney, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-2 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Eli Harpst, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Dunson, Hendrix, 8-3 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Compete Against DII Foes | Sun, Mar 15, 2009 |
| WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 8, OUACHITA BAPTIST 1 Friday At Arkadelphia, Ark. Doubles Natalia Drada and Tavu Fa, OBU, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Megan Ruggles and Tavu Fa, OBU, 8-4 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. OBU, default Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Drada, OBU, 7-5, 7-5 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Fa, OBU, 6-1, 6-3 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Thoko Zulu, OBU, 6-0, 6-0 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Ruggles, OBU, 6-0, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. OBU, default Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. OBU, default UA FORT SMITH 5, SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE 4 Wednesday At Seminole, Okla. Doubles Barbara Oliveira and Joanna Torres, Seminole State, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Chelsea Smith and Diana Lozano, Seminole State, 8-5 Christina Lebarre and D.J. Cunningham, Seminole State, def. Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-1 Singles Oliveira, Seminole State, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Smith, Seminole State, 6-4, 6-0 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Lozano, Seminole State, 6-1, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Torres, Seminole State, 6-3, 6-4 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Lebarre, Seminole State, 6-3, 7-5 Cunningham, Seminole State, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-0 JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 9, DELTA STATE 0 Saturday At Arkadelphia, Ark. Doubles Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Julien Beckensteiner and Thiago Marion, DSU, 8-4 Kane Olsen and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Felipe Fonseca and Guilherme Russo, DSU, 8-6 Josh Helland and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Matt Dean and Tom Santos, DSU, 8-2 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Beckensteiner, DSU, 7-5, 7-5 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Marion, DSU, 6-4, 6-1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Fonseca, DSU, 6-4, 6-4 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Russo, DSU, 7-5, 6-2 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Dean, DSU, 6-1, 6-2 Helland, UA Fort Smith, def. Santos, DSU, 6-1, 6-1 OUACHITA BAPTIST 9, UA FORT SMITH 0 Friday At Arkadelphia, Ark. Doubles Jan Plewinski and Till Heilshorn, OBU, def. Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Jean Charles Diame and Pierre Tafelski, OBU, def. Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Szymon Judek and Vasek Stverka, OBU, def. Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-1 Singles Plewinski, OBU, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2 Heilshorn, OBU, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-3 Diame, OBU, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Tafelski, OBU, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0 Daniel Moser, OBU, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Mike Basler, OBU, def. Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 SEMINOLE STATE 8, UA FORT SMITH 1 Wednesday At Seminole, Okla. Doubles Martin Arguello and Ryan Coffey, Seminole State, def. Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 Armando Morales and Doyle Springett, Seminole State, def. Martin Tabler and Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Kasey Vaughan and Bryan Canavan, Seminole State, def. Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Arguello, Seminole State, 6-1, 2-6, 10-5 Coffey, Seminole State, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-2 Morales, Seminole State, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Ivan Lidzar, Seminole State, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2 Springett, Seminole State, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Canavan, Seminole State, def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-2 | |
| Lady Lions, Lions Fall To Rockhurst University | Tue, Mar 10, 2009 |
| JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY 5, UA FORT SMITH 4 At Bentonville, Ark. Doubles Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Caitlin Buckley and Erin Bales, Rockhurst, 8-5 Kandice Belanger and Leigh Faurie, Rockhurst, def. Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 8-0 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Mary Jarragher and Rachel Jarragher, Rockhurst, 8-2 Singles Belanger, Rockhurst, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Buckley, Rockhurst, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Bales, Rockhurst, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Faurie, Rockhurst, 6-1, 6-1 M. Jarragher, Rockhurst, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. R. Jarragher, Rockhurst, 6-2, 6-3 JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY 7, UA FORT SMITH 2 At Bentonville, Ark. Doubles Ben Newell and Zach Newell, Rockhurst, def. Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Arturo Baravalle and Victor Klintcharov, Rockhurst, def. Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Ryan Field and Adam Bales, Rockhurst, 8-6 Singles Baravalle, Rockhurst, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Klintcharov, Rockhurst, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Z. Newell, Rockhurst, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 B. Newell, Rockhurst, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Bales, Rockhurst, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 Field, Rockhurst, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 3-6, 12-10 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Sweep Oklahoma Wesleyan | Tue, Mar 3, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s and women’s tennis teams bounced back from a tough outing in Texas this weekend with a sweep of NAIA Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Monday at Creekmore Tennis Center. UA Fort Smith beat Oklahoma Wesleyan 9-0 in the men’s match and 8-1in the women’s match. The Lions (9-3) finished 1-3 during their Texas swing that began on Friday, losing to NCAA Division II Midwestern State University (6-3), Temple College (5-4) and Collin County Community College (8-1) and beating Bethany College (6-3). The Lady Lions (6-6) finished 1-3 during their weekend outing that began on Friday, losing to Midwestern State (6-3), Temple College (6-3), Collin County (8-1) and beating Bethany College (8-1). Against Oklahoma Wesleyan, the Lions dominated from the start, winning all three doubles matches. Freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, and sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, set the pace by beating Trey Terrell and Tyler Stearns 8-4 in the No. 1 doubles match. The Lions swept each of the singles matches, too, with freshman Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, beating Sergio Alava 6-0, 6-0 to in the No. 1 singles match. The Lady Lions did much the same, sweeping all three doubles matches to spark their lopsided win. Sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, beat Genny Schmidt and Ali Ardery 8-0 in the No. 1 doubles match. Freshman Stanislava Harvanova of Mississauga, Ontario, beat Schmidt 6-1, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles match as the Lady Lions won five of the six singles matches. JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 9, OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN 0 AT CREEKMORE TENNIS CENTER Doubles Matheus da Silva and Even Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Trey Terrell and Tyler Stearns, OWU, 8-4 Martin Tabler and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Sergio Alava and Walter Hoyas, OWU, 8-1 Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. David Dawn and Curtis Hodges, OWU, 8-0 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Alava, OWU, 6-0, 6-0 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Terrell, OWU, 6-0, 6-3 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Stearns, OWU, 6-0, 6-1 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Hoyas, OWU, 6-0, 6-0 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Hodges, OWU, 6-0, 6-0 Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, def. Dawn, OWU, 6-2, 6-2 MIDWESTERN STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 AT PLANO, TEXAS FRIDAY Doubles Daniel McMullan and Vjekoslav Stipanic, MSU, def. Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Terrell and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Octavian Dinuta and Chad Meeks, MSU, 8-4 Todd and Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Chip Threadgill and Davidson, MSU, 8-3 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Stipanic, MSU, 6-3, 7-6 Carlos Bataller, MSU, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 7-5 McMullan, MSU, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 7-5 Dinuta, MSU, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 6-4, 10-3 Meeks, MSU, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Threadgill, MSU, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-1 TEMPLE COLLEGE 5, UA FORT SMITH 4 AT PLANO, TEXAS FRIDAY Doubles Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Fernando Carregal and Chris Lawson, Temple, 8-4 Terrell and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. David Williams and Igor Ozegovic, Temple, 8-6 Todd and Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Jake Williams and Will Truitt, Temple, 9-7 Singles Lawson, Temple, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-4 Williams, Temple, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Carregal, Temple, 7-6, 6-3 Michael Smathers, Temple, def. Terrell, Temple, 6-4, 6-0 Ozegovic, Temple, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 6-0, 10-7 Raul Garza, Temple, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 COLLIN COUNTY 8, UA FORT SMITH 1 AT PLANO, TEXAS SATURDAY Doubles Damian Hume and Byron Cole, Collin County, def. Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Matt Davis and Jordan Rozenfeld, Collin County, def. Terrell and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Todd and Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Andrew Dobbs and David McKinney, Collin County, 8-1 Singles Hume, Collin County, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 5-7, 6-1, 10-4 Rozenfeld, Collin County, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Cole, Collin County, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Davis, Collin County, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-4 McKinney, Collin County, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-0 Pablo Haza, Collin County, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3 UA FORT SMITH 6, BETHANY COLLEGE 3 AT PLANO, TEXAS SATURDAY Doubles Mitchell De Jong and Adam Hambleton, Bethany, def. Piche and da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 9-8 Terrell and Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Jack Schoeman and Santiago Gonzalez, Bethany, 8-4 Todd and Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Kody Koester and Jose Garcia, Bethany, 8-0 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. De Jong, Bethany, 6-1, 6-2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Hambleton, Bethany, 6-3, 6-3 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Jakub Szymanski, Bethany, 4-6, 6-1, 10-3 Schoeman, Bethany, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-3 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Garcia, Bethany, 7-5, 6-2 Koester, Bethany, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 4-6, 6-4, 14-12 WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 8, OKLAHOMA WESLEYAN 1 AT CREEKMORE TENNIS CENTER Doubles Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Genny Schmidt and Ali Ardery, OWU, 8-0 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Cyndi Rothfuss and Jordan Brazda, OWU, 8-1 Jennie Blackim and Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Slagle and Kelly Hunt, OWU, 8-1 Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Schmidt, OWU, 6-1, 6-1 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Rothfuss, OWU, 6-0, 6-0 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Ardery, OWU, 6-0, 6-0 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Brenda Gunter, OWU, 6-3, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Morgan Ward, OWU, 6-2, 6-2 Brazda, UA Fort Smith, def. Blackim, OWU, 6-4, 6-4 MIDWESTERN STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 FRIDAY AT PLANO, TEXAS Doubles Alex Odell-Michels and Collean Kinzer, MSU, def. McCullough and Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-5 (RET.) Polhers and Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. D’Hamecourt and Kaja Banas, MSU, 8-4 Delvaux and Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Tonya Blair and Mica Vinson, MSU, 8-3 Singles Odell-Michels, MSU, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-4 Banas, MSU, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Blair, MSU, 6-0, 6-3 D’Hamecourt, MSU, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Kinzer, MSU, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Vinson, MSU, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 3-6, 10-5 TEMPLE COLLEGE 6, UA FORT SMITH 3 FRIDAY AT PLANO, TEXAS Doubles Ashlea Baker and Raven Lewis, Temple, def. McCullough and Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Amanda Armenta and Kristen Baker, Temple, def. Pohlers and Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 9-8 Delvaux and Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Jessica Phelps and Natalie Foster, Temple, 8-2 Singles Baker, Temple, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 Lewis, Temple, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-2 Armenta, Temple, def. Silviya Topchiyska, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Baker, Temple, 6-2, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Foster, Temple, 8-2 Phelps, Temple, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-1 COLLIN COUNTY CC 8, UA FORT SMITH 1 SATURDAY AT PLANO, TEXAS Doubles Cally Woerner and Taylor Holzknecht, Collin County, def. McCullough and Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Emily McRae and Brittany Tobin, Collin County, def. Pohlers and Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Marie Liwuslili and Courtney Cobb, Collin County, def. Delvaux and Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Singles Liwuslili, Collin County, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-0 Cobb, Collin County, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Gina Solis, Collin County, 6-4, 6-0 Fatma Kuzu, Collin County, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Tobin, Collin County, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-4 McRae, Collin County, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 UA FORT SMITH 8, BETHANY COLLEGE 1 SATURDAY AT PLANO, TEXAS Doubles McCullough and Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Nyskea Etienne and Aimee Harrell, Bethany, 8-6 Pohlers and Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Stacie Schoon and Victoria Guedez, Bethany, 8-1 Delvaux and Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Katelin Clawson and Crystal Mannebach, Bethany, 8-4 Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Etienne, Bethany, 6-1, 6-2 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, Guedez, Bethany, 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Harrell, Bethany, 7-5, 6-1 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Schoon, Bethany, 5-7, 6-3, 10-4 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Mannebach, Bethany, 6-1, 6-3 Clawson, Bethany, def. UA Fort Smith, Default | |
| UA Fort Smith Accepts Invitation To Join Heartland Conference | Mon, Mar 2, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith’s search for an NCAA Division II athletic conference is over. Athletic director Dustin Smith announced on Monday that UA Fort Smith has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Heartland Conference, a now 10-member league based in Waco, Texas. UA Fort Smith will begin play in the Heartland Conference with the start of the 2009-10 season. “It’s a historic day for UA Fort Smith athletics as we continue our transition to NCAA Division II status,” Smith said. “We are thankful to now have a home, and we feel the Heartland Conference fits the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department.” UA Fort Smith, which is in its final year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, is currently in the second year of the three-year Division II membership process. UA Fort Smith will be a provisional Division II member next season while competing in the Heartland Conference. UA Fort Smith’s teams, however, will not be eligible to compete in postseason play until the 2010-11 season, when it becomes a full-fledged member of Division II. “We are excited about beginning play in Division II next year and being a member of the Heartland Conference,” UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said. “We will be playing schools that will be on par with us. … This is a great moment.” The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west. UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin. “We look forward to establishing ourselves at the Division II level, and the Heartland Conference will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our program – athletically and academically,” Smith said. The Heartland Conference sponsors six men’s sports – cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and seven women’s sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball and tennis. UA Fort Smith currently competes in four men’s sports – basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and four women’s sports – volleyball, basketball, golf and tennis. Next season, it also will field men’s and women’s cross country teams. Smith said the Heartland Conference not only is a great fit for UA Fort Smith athletically but academically as well. Universities in the Heartland Conference offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The strength of the student-athlete concept is well supported by the many NCAA scholar-athletes in each school, the high cumulative GPA of the student-athletes in each school and the high number of student-athletes who graduate from each institution in the Heartland Conference. “We are proud of their commitment to academics at the conference level,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect of our student-athletes.” Smith said he is looking forward to a long relationship with the Heartland Conference. “We are excited about being a member of the Heartland Conference and look forward to playing in the conference for many years to come,” Smith said. | |
| Lions Tennis Team Extends Unbeaten Start | Tue, Feb 17, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s tennis team remained undefeated on Monday with its first-ever win against NCAA Division II Harding University. UA Fort Smith beat Harding 7-2 at Searcy, Ark., to earn its third win four days and improve to 5-0 this spring. It is the best start in the four-year history of the program. “It was great with the doubles teams winning all three and our singles players winning four of six matches,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “It was an excellent win for the team.” UA Fort Smith began its three-match stint with its first-ever win against a NCAA Division I opponent on Friday, when it beat the University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff 5-4 in Conway, Ark. The Lions then beat Hendrix College 8-1 on Sunday at Conway. The Lions swept all three doubles matches against the Bisons (1-1), who beat Hendrix in their season opener. The No. 1 doubles team of Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, beat Henrique and Marco Ruiz 9-8. The No. 2 doubles tandem of Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., and Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., beat Brett Hoch and Olzhas Taniyev 8-5, and the No. 3 duo of Andrew Todd of Bentonville and Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, beat Chris Beach and Blake Hemphill 8-1. Olsen and da Silva posted wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles, respectively. Tabler and Todd won their Nos. 5 and 6 singles matches, respectively. The Lady Lions went 2-1 during their recent three-match stint with wins against UAPB and Hendrix and a loss to Harding. Harding edged UA Fort Smith 5-4. UA Fort Smith won two of its three doubles matches against Harding. The No. 1 team of McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, beat Alicia Williams and Haniel Gara 9-7, and the No. 3 tandem of Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, and Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., beat Janet Orgain and Adrienne Bryant 8-3. Bryson beat Katherine Golik 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 singles, and McCullough beat Bryant 6-1, 6-2 in No. 5 singles. JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 7, HARDING UNIVERSITY 2 Monday At Searcy, Ark. Doubles Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Henrique Ruiz and Marco Ruiz, Harding, 9-8 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Brett Hoch and Olzhas Taniyev, Harding, 8-5 Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Chris Beach and Blake Hemphill, Harding, 8-1 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Taniyev, Harding, 6-4, 7-5 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. H. Ruiz, Harding, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 M. Ruiz, Harding, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Beach, Harding, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-2, 10-3 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Hoch, Harding, 7-5, 7-5 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Hemphill, Harding, 6-1, 6-4 JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 7, HARDING UNIVERSITY 2 Monday At Searcy, Ark. Doubles McKenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Alicia Williams and Haniel Gara, Harding, 9-7 Katherine Golik and Lola Pardo, Harding, def. Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Janet Orgain and Adrienne Bryant, Harding, 8-3 Singles Williams, Harding, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Pardo, Harding, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-3 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Golik, Harding, 6-1, 6-0 Gara, Harding, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 7-5, 6-2 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Bryant, Harding, 6-1, 6-2 Lindsey Brumfield, Harding, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 | |
| UA Fort Smith Sweeps Hendrix College | Mon, Feb 16, 2009 |
| WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 8, HENDRIX COLLEGE 1 Sunday Conway, Ark. Doubles McKenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Caitlin Stevens and Kwynn Biggs, Hendrix, 8-5 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Anne French and Abby Cape, Hendrix, 8-2 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Dorothy Schuler and Anna Ragni, Hendrix, 8-1 Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Biggs, Hendrix, 3-2 (ret.) Stevens, Hendrix, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-4 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. French, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-3 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Cape, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Schuler, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-0 Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Nasr, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-0 MEN UA FORT SMITH 8, HENDRIX COLLEGE 1 Sunday Conway, Ark. Doubles Michael Gardner and Ryan Strickland, Hendrix, def. Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Craig Thomas and Austin Kearney, Hendrix, 8-2 Josh Helland and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Ben Thomas and Kent Dunson, Hendrix, 8-1 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Gardner, Hendrix, 6-2, 6-0 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Strickland, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Thomas, Hendrix, 6-0, 6-0 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Kearney, Hendrix, 6-2, 7-6 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Eli Harpst, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-2 Helland, UA Fort Smith, def. Ken Yang, Hendrix, 6-1, 6-3 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Sweep NCAA Division I UAPB | Sun, Feb 15, 2009 |
| WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 9, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - PINE BLUFF 0 Friday Conway, Ark. Doubles McKenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Valecill and Jarissa Greenard, UAPB, 9-8 Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. Stephanie Forte and Andre Branch, UAPB, 8-1 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. UAPB, Default Singles Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Greenard, UAPB, 6-0, 6-0 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Valecill, UAPB, 6-0, 6-2 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Forte, UAPB, 6-0, 6-0 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Branch, UAPB, 6-0, 6-1 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. UAPB, Default Blackim, UA Fort Smith, def. UAPB, Default MEN UA FORT SMITH 5, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS - PINE BLUFF 4 Friday Conway, Ark. Doubles Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Hugo Gomez and Andres Riobueno, UAPB, 9-8 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Jorge Villicis and Eduardo Luge, UAPB, 8-2 Josh Helland and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Bruno Hurtado and James Cowan, UAPB, 8-0 Singles Gomez, UAPB, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Lugue, UAPB, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Villicis, UAPB, 5-7, 7-5, 10-8 Riobueno, UAPB, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-3 Hurtado, UAPB, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 Cowan, UAPB, def. Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| Lions Sweep, Lady Lions Split In Season Openers | Sun, Feb 8, 2009 |
| JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 6, HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY 3 Saturday, Feb. 7 At Shawnee, Okla. Doubles Jordan Gilbreath and Chris Sutton, Howard Payne, def. Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Raymond Borjas and Joshua Guajardo, Howard Payne, 8-2 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Nate Alger and Ross Sidman, Howard Payne, 8-1 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Sutton, Howard Payne, 6-3, 6-3 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Sidman, Howard Payne, 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Borjas, Howard Payne, 6-2, 6-1 Jeff Toyne, Howard Payne, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Alger, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-4 Guajardo, Howard Payne, def. Josh Helland, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-0 UA FORT SMITH 6, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY 3 Saturday, Feb. 7 At Shawnee, Okla. Doubles Evan Piche and Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Bruno Scacalossi and Gustavo Schaefer, OBU, 8-6 Sergej Babic and Peter McCorkle, OBU, def. Andrew Todd and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 9-8 Cameron Terrell and Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Mitch Frank and Scott Milner, OBU, 8-1 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Babic, OBU, 6-0, 6-1 Scacalossi, OBU, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. McCorkle, OBU, 6-2, 7-6 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Schaefer, OBU, 6-3, 6-3 Milner, OBU, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-4 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Canavan, OBU, 6-1, 6-2 JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 6, HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY 3 Saturday, Feb. 7 At Shawnee, Okla. Doubles Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Kayleigh Sullivan and Kayla Smith, Howard Payne, 8-1 Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, def. Kathryn Head and Kori Stark, Howard Payne, 8-6 Kandace Schuelke and Laci Fitzgerald, Howard Payne, def. Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Singles Fitzgerald, Howard Payne, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 1-6, 10-4 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Smith, Howard Payne, 6-0, 6-2 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Head, Howard Payne, 4-6, 7-6, 10-7 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Stark, Howard Payne, 6-1, 6-3 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Sullivan, Howard Payne, 6-2, 6-1 Cassie Emerson, Howard Payne, def. Silviya Topchiyska, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3 OKLAHOMA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY 8, UA FORT SMITH 1 Saturday, Feb. 7 At Shawnee, Okla. Doubles Samantha Attard and Paola Costa, OBU, def. Kenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Brooke Mowery and Camber Robinett, OBU, def. Shawna Pohlers and Stanislava Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Paige Davis and Katie Halbesleben, OBU, def. Charlotte Delvaux and Jennie Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Singles Costa, OBU, def. Harvanova, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Attard, OBU, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-0 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Halbesleben, OBU, 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 Robinett, OBU, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 7-6 Mowery, OBU, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-1, 10-3 Davis, OBU, def. Blackim, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 | |
| UA Fort Smith Tennis Teams To Make Spring Debut | Thu, Feb 5, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s and women’s tennis teams enjoyed one of their most successful fall seasons in the four-year history of the program, and coach Bob Huckelbury expects that to continue as the spring season gets under way. UA Fort Smith will open the spring season on Saturday, Feb. 7, with a pair of matches at Shawnee, Okla. UA Fort Smith will play NCAA Division III Howard Payne University at noon and will play host Oklahoma Baptist University at 3 p.m. “I’m ready to see how we compete in a real match, particularly our freshmen,” Huckelbury said. “We have some new players, and I am eager to see how they perform.” The Lions are currently ranked No. 6 and the Lady Lions are ranked No. 16 nationally. It is the highest ranking ever for the Lions. “We have high expectations for both the men’s and women’s teams,” Huckelbury said. “Both teams had successful fall seasons that hopefully prepared them for the tough schedule we will face this spring.” The Lions are led by freshmen Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil. They are ranked No. 10 and No. 22, respectively, nationally in singles. Sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, is ranked No. 45. Freshman Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., is ranked No. 54, and freshman Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., is ranked No. 73. Freshmen Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., and Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas, will provide strong depth. “The men and women had some great fall results and also did extremely well in the classroom,” Huckelbury said. “The women’s team will rise in the rankings with the addition of new freshman Stanislava Harvanova this spring. She was on campus briefly during the fall but had to go home due to a family emergency.” Harvanova, a native of the Czech Republic who lives in Mississauga, Ontario, is expected to be the Lady Lions’ No. 1 singles player. “She’s going to make an impact,” Huckelbury said. “She’s pretty confident.” She’ll have strong support from freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, who is ranked No. 36 in singles; freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, who is ranked No. 47; freshman Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., who is ranked No. 54; sophomore Kenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., who is ranked No. 69; freshman Silviya Topchiyska of Plovdiv, Bulgaria; and redshirt sophomore Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla. “If both teams can stay healthy and injury free, we’ll have the most depth since beginning the program four years ago,” Huckelbury said. UA Fort Smith competes with Seminole State College in NJCAA Region II. The Lions and Lady Lions were the region runner-ups a year ago and advanced to the national tournament, where the Lions finished seventh overall and the Lady Lions finished 23rd overall. | |
| UA Fort Smith Continues Search For Conference Affiliation | Wed, Jan 14, 2009 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will continue its search for a NCAA Division II athletic conference affiliation after receiving notification on Wednesday morning that it would not be invited to join the Gulf South Conference. UA Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran received the official notification of the decision made by the President’s Council of the Gulf South Conference during Wednesday’s session of the NCAA National Convention, which is being held this week in Washington, D.C. In making its decision, the President’s Council cited the current balance within the conference’s two divisions – eight teams in the West Division and eight teams in the East Division – as being the desired management structure that they want to maintain for the conference. “UA Fort Smith has a strong athletic program, excellent facilities, and most importantly, dedicated and energized athletic personnel,” Beran said. “The athletic department administration and I will immediately begin to pursue other conference opportunities.” This past July, the athletic department received approval from the NCAA Division II membership committee to proceed to the second year of the two-year exploratory phase of the three-year membership process. UA Fort Smith is currently competing in its final season as a member of the NJCAA. “UA Fort Smith has demonstrated full ability to be a strong member of any NCAA Division II conference,” Beran said. “We will move forward to not only join another conference of equal or greater quality and stature, but also we will move forward to show our huge capacity for being the university of choice for student athletes.” | |
| Tennis Teams Ranked High In ITA Fall Poll | Mon, Nov 10, 2008 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis teams are both ranked in the Top 20 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Fall Junior College National Rankings. The Lions are ranked No. 6 – their highest ranking ever in the four-year history of the program. The Lady Lions are ranked No. 16. Lions freshman Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, is ranked No. 10 in singles – the highest ranking ever for a UA Fort Smith men’s No. 1 singles player. Freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, is ranked No. 22 – the highest ranking ever for a UA Fort Smith men’s No. 2 singles player. Sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, is ranked No. 45 in singles. Freshman Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., is ranked No. 56 in singles. Freshman Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., is ranked No. 73 in singles, and sophomore Ryan Harris of Shawnee, Okla., is ranked No. 78 in singles. The doubles team of Terrell and Olsen is ranked No. 16, and the team of Piche and da Silva is ranked No. 27. Lady Lions freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, is ranked No. 36 in singles. Freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, is ranked No. 47 in singles. Freshman Shawna Polhers of Nixa, Mo., is ranked No. 54 in singles, and McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., is ranked No. 69 in singles. The doubles team of McCullough and Bryson is ranked No. 14, and the team of Delvaux and Pohlers is ranked No. 25. | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Perform Well At Collin County Fall Open | Tue, Oct 14, 2008 |
| PLANO, Texas – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith men’s and women’s tennis teams performed well during this past weekend’s Collin County Community College Fall Open at Plano, Texas. UA Fort Smith was a part of a tournament field that included teams from the junior college, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I ranks. Freshman Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., advanced to the Flight 4 singles championship match, where he lost to Armando Morales of Seminole State College 6-3, 6-3. After suffering a first-round loss, freshman Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, won the Flight 2 singles consolation championship, beating Howard Payne’s Raymond Borjas 8-4. After losing in the first round of Flight 3 doubles, the UA Fort Smith tandem of Todd and freshman Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark., won the consolation championship, beating Oklahoma Baptist’s Scott Milner and Michael Canavan 8-6. Freshman Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., won the Flight 5 singles championship, beating Arkansas Tech’s Kristen Brown 1-6, 6-1, 10-4, and the doubles team of freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, and sophomore McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., advanced to the Flight 2 championship match, where they lost to Paula Dinuta and Talena Lorren of Collin County 8-5. After losing in the first round of the Flight 2 singles, freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, advanced to the consolation championship match, losing to Dallas Baptist’s Natalia Holmes 9-8. COLLIN COUNTY FALL OPEN At Collin County CC, Plano, Texas Oct. 10-11 MEN Singles First Round Flight 2 Daniel Moser, OBU, def. Matheus da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-4 Flight 3 Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Lane Ruder, Oklahoma Baptist, 6-1, 6-1 Flight 4 Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Mike Delloro, SOS, 7-5, 6-3 Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Clint Baird, DBU, 6-2, 7-5 Flight 6 Martin Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Justin Hanna, DBU, 6-0, 6-2 Quarterfinal Round Flight 3 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Orry Skelton, DBU, 6-0, 6-3 Flight 4 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Josh Guajardo, HP, 7-5, 6-1 Armando Morales, SS, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Flight 6 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Josh Baker, SW, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 Semifinal Round Flight 3 Jordan Rozenfeld, Collin County, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 7-6 Flight 4 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Moore Patterson, UNA, 6-4, 6-3 Flight 6 Kasey Vaughn, SS, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3 Finals Flight 4 Morales, SS, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-3 Consolation Round First Round Flight 2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Cameron Nash, TCU, 8-2 Semifinals Flight 2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Kyle Faber, UNA, 8-0 Finals Flight 2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Raymond Borjas, HP, 8-4 Doubles First Round Flight 2 da Silva and Piche, UA Fort Smith, bye Flight 3 Andrew Carter and Nelson Ginape, SS, def. Tabler and Todd, UA Fort Smith, 8-6 Quarterfinals Flight 2 Morales and Doyle Springett, SS, def. da Silva and Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Consolation Round Semifinals Flight 3 Tabler and Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Clint Baird and Nick French, 8-5 Finals Flight 3 Tabler and Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Scott Milner and Michael Canavan, OBU, 8-6 WOMEN Singles First Round Flight 2 Jo’vonna Gaines, NCT, def. Charlotte Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-3 Flight 3 Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Meghan Billings, DB, 6-0, 6-1 Flight 5 Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Amber Thompson, SOS, 7-6, 3-6, 13-11 Flight 6 Susan Heston, UNA, def. Molly Hudson, UA Fort Smith, 2-6, 6-2, 10-6 Quarterfinals Flight 3 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Amy Isbell, TJC, 6-1, 6-1 Flight 5 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Sara Schmidt, SOS, 2-6, 6-4, 10-4 Semifinals Flight 3 Rafaela Souza, ORU, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Flight 5 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. D.J. Cunningham, SS, 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 Finals Flight 5 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Kristen Brown, AT, 1-6, 6-1, 10-4 Consolation Round Flight 2 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Jeana Brooks, SEO, 8-3 Flight 6 Hudson, UA Fort Smith, def. Brittney Osburn, NCT, 8-1 Semifinals Flight 2 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Brooke Mowery, OBU, 8-3 Flight 6 Ashley Baird, Arkansas Tech, def. Hudson, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Finals Flight 2 Natalia Holmes, DB, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 9-8 Doubles First Round Flight 2 Bryson and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Cassie Emerson and Laci Fitzgerald, HP, 8-0 Flight 3 Delvaux and Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Jessica James and Michele Yi, Arkansas Tech, 8-5 Quarterfinals Flight 2 Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Kristen Brown and Brittany Turner, Arkansas Tech, 8-5 Flight 3 Sophia Molina and Amber Thompson, SOS, def. Delvaux and Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Semifinals Flight 2 Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Casey Bulls and Kelly Rittenhouse, TJC, 8-2 Finals Flight 2 Paula Dinuta and Talena Lorren, CC, def. Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Perform Well At ITA Regional | Mon, Oct 6, 2008 |
| WILSON/ITA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Oct. 3-4 At Cowley County Community College, Cowley, Kan. Men Doubles First Round Luis Sperb and Pierre LaGrange, Johnson County, def. Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, 4-6, 6-1, 10-3 Cameron Terrell and Kane Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Fernando Soni and Christian Romanzini, Seward County, 6-4, 6-7, 10-6 Armando Morales and Doyle Springett, Seminole State, def. Matheus da Silva and Evan Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-7, 6-3, 10-6 Quarterfinals Taj Harrison and Luka Radulovic, Johnson County, def. Terrell and Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-2 Consolation First Round Kasey Vaughn and Bryan Canavan, Seminole State, def. Tabler and Todd, UA Fort Smith, 8-3 da Silva and Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Krittannu Puthang and Diego Abreu, Seminole State, default. Quarterfinals da Silva and Piche def. Alex Woolcock and Boomer Saia, Cowley County, 8-5 Finals Vaughn and Canavan, Seminole State, def. da Silva and Piche, UA Fort Smith, 8-5 Singles First Round Olsen, UA Fort Smith, Bye Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Saia, Cowley County, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Stephen Kelch, Cowley County, 6-1, 6-0 Nelson Ginape, Seminole State, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-1 Second Round Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Doyle Springett, Seminole State, 7-6, 7-5 Taj Harrison, Johnson County, def. Piche, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Puthong, Seward County, 6-3, 7-6 Quarterfinals Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Morales, Seminole State, 6-0, 6-1 Lloyd Bruce-Burgess, Cowley County, def. da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-1 Semifinals Peter Billingham, Cowley County, def. Olsen, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 Consolation Quarterfinals Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Stephen Kelch, Cowley County, default Semifinals Ryan Coffey, Seminole, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 9-7 B Flight Singles Second Round Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Vaughn, Seminole State, 5-7, 6-4, 10-5 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Justin Ashworth, Cowley County, 6-2, 6-1 Ryan Harris, UA Fort Smith, def. Jordan Johnson, Seminole State, 7-5, 6-3 Quarterfinals Radulovic, Johnson County, def. Tabler, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 6-0 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Caio Rodrigues, Seward County, 6-0, 6-0 Pierre LaGrange, Johnson County, def. Harris, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 7-6 Semifinals LaGrange, Johnson County, def. Todd, UA Fort Smith, 7-6, 4-6, 12-10 WOMEN Doubles First Round Shannon Franz and Brittney Laner, Cowley County, def. Charlotte Delvaux and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 3-6, 10-2 Quarterfinals Tamra Bryson and McKenzie McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Natalia Medina and Wrylie Finkle, Cowley County, 6-2, 6-3 Semifinals Jamie Blackim and Jessica Montemayor, Cowley County, def. Bryson and McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-0 Consolation Round Semifinals Delvaux and Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Valerie Stevens and Antigone Lowery, Seward County, 8-5 Finals Delvaux and Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Joanna Torres and Diana Lozano, Seminole State, 9-8 Singles First Round Shannon Franz, Cowley County, def. Molly Hudson, UA Fort Smith, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, bye Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Fabiola Wisnesky, Seward County, 6-4, 6-0 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. D.J. Cunningham, Seminole State, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, bye Second Round Blackim, Cowley County, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 Cassandra Kleber, Seminole State, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-3 Montemayor, Cowley County, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-3 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Torres, Seminole State, 6-3, 6-0 Quarterfinals Doballah Ghezylene, Barton County, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-1 Consolation Round Quarterfinals Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Chelsea Smith, Seminole, 8-1 Semifinals Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Juliana Baos, Seward County, 8-4 Finals Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Stevens, Seward County, 8-2 | |
| Olsen Wins Fort Smith City Singles Championship | Mon, Sep 29, 2008 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith freshman Kane Olsen rallied from a first-set loss on Sunday afternoon to beat former Arkansas Razorback Peter Doohan in three sets to win the Fort Smith City Singles Championships at Fort Smith Athletic Club. Olsen, who was the top-seeded singles player in the tournament, beat second-seeded Doohan 6-7, 6-4, 10-7. “Even though Zane was seeded first, this was a mild upset over the former Razorback All-American, Aussie Davis Cup player and Wimbledon quarterfinalist,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. After losing the first set, which lasted about 1 ½ hours, Olsen, who’s from Hamilton, New Zealand, took an early two-break lead in the second set and held on to win and force a tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Doohan jumped ahead 5-1, but Olsen won nine of the next 11 points to post the victory. “It was a great match,” Huckelbury said. Freshman Matheus da Silva, who is from Brasilia Brazil, and the Lions’ No. 2 singles player, advanced to the semifinals of the City Singles Championships, losing to Doohan 6-4, 6-2. “The score does not reflect the quality of the match,” Huckelbury said. “Matheus made Doohan work hard for the victory.” The Lady Lions also competed in the Golden Suns Invitational at Russellville. Freshman Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, and freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, each suffered a pair of losses in Flight 1 singles. Delvaux lost to former Lady Lions and current Golden Sun Anna Carson 6-2, 6-1 in the first round and lost to Southeastern Oklahoma’s Jenny Paine 8-3 in the quarterfinals of consolation play. Bryson lost to Delta State’s Cecile Benzaki 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and lost to Southeastern Oklahoma’s Sofia Molina 8-4 in the quarterfinals of consolation play. Sophomore McKenzie McCullough went 1-1 in Flight 2 singles. McCullough, who is from Henryetta, Okla., beat University of Ozarks Lea Rena 6-0, 7-5 in the first round and lost to Southeastern Oklahoma’s Deana Brooks 6-3, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Freshman Shawna Pohlers suffered a pair of losses in Flight 2 singles. Pohlers, who’s from Nixa, Mo., lost to Delta State’s Milena Araujo 6-1, 6-3 in the first round and lost to Henderson State’s Meredith Massey 8-2 in consolation play. Freshman Molly Hudson suffered a pair of losses in Flight 3 singles. Hudson, who’s from Fort Smith, lost to Arkansas Tech’s Kristen Brown 6-0, 6-0 in the first round and lost to Ouachita Baptist’s Katie Potts 9-8 (2-0) in consolation play. The doubles team of Pohlers and Delvaux suffered a pair of losses in Flight 1. They lost 8-2 to Delta State’s Benzaki and Tatiana Bouchard in the first round and lost to Arkansas Tech’s Brittany Turner and Brown 8-2 in consolation play. The duo of Bryson and McCullough finished 1-1 in Flight 1. They beat Henderson State’s Massey and Rebecca Staton 8-1 in the first round and lost to Ouachita Baptist’s Tavu Fa and Natalia Drada 8-1 in the quarterfinals. | |
| Lady Lions, Lions Sweep Matches | Sat, Sep 20, 2008 |
| The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions tennis team bounced back from its season-opening loss on Friday to shutout Missouri Southern University 6-0 on Saturday at Creekmore Tennis Center. Lady Lions sophomore McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., and freshman Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas, beat Kati Anderson and Alex Lewis 8-2 and freshmen Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, and Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., beat Lauren Skimbo and Bri Tunnell 8-0 in Nos. 1 and 2 doubles. UA Fort Smith dominated all but one of the singles matches in straight sets. Delvaux needed three sets to beat Anderson 3-6, 6-0, 13-11 in the No. 1 singles match. A day after beating the Oklahoma Baptist University Bison 8-1, the Lions encountered a much tougher Bison team at Creekmore Tennis Center on Saturday. The Lions remained undefeated, however, beating the Bison 6-3. UA Fort Smith finished 2-1 in doubles play with the No. 2 tandem of freshmen Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., beating Michael Canavan and Lance Ruder 8-1 and the No. 3 duo of sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and freshman Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., beating Scott Milner and Ben Allen 8-4. The Lions finished 4-2 in singles play. Freshman Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, beat Gustavo Schaefer 6-7, 6-2, 10-6 in No. 1 singles; Piche beat Canavan 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in No. 4 singles; Todd beat Ruder 6-1, 6-1 in No. 5 singles and Tabler beat Allen 6-2, 6-1 in No. 6 singles. JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS WOMEN UA FORT SMITH 6, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 0 Doubles McKenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Kati Anderson and Alex Lewis, MSU, 8-2 Charlotte Delvaux and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Lauren Skimbo and Bri Tunnell, MSU, 8-0. Singles Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, def. Anderson, MSU, 3-6, 6-0, 13-11 Bryson, UA Fort Smith, def. Skimbo, MSU, 6-3, 7-5 Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Tunnell, MSU, 6-3, 6-0 McCullough, UA Fort Smith, def. Becka Sterlin, MSU, 6-1, 6-0 MEN UA FORT SMITH 6, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 3 Doubles Bruno Scacalossi and Gustavo Schaefer, OBU, def. Kane Olsen and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Canavan and Lance Ruder, OBU, 8-1 Evan Piche and Matheus Da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Scott Milner and Ben Allen, OBU, 8-4 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Schaefer, OBU, 6-7, 6-2, 10-6 Scacalossi, OBU, def. Da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 6-1, 6-4 Milner, OBU, def. Terrell, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Canavan, OBU, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Ruder, OBU, 6-1, 6-1 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Allen, OBU, 6-2, 6-1 | |
| UA Fort Smith Splits Fall Home Tennis Openers | Fri, Sep 19, 2008 |
| FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Lions’ fall home debut was a success. After dropping the No. 1 doubles match Oklahoma Baptist University, the Lions won the Nos. 2 and 3 doubles matches and swept the singles matches on their way to an 8-1 win against the NAIA Division I Bison Friday afternoon at Creekmore Tennis Center. Oklahoma Baptist’s Bruno Scacalossi and Gustavo Schaeffer beat sophomore Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, and Matheus Da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil, 8-2 in No. 1 doubles. UA Fort Smith got the spark it needed in the remaining doubles matches. Freshmen Kane Olsen of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark., beat Michael Canavan and Lance Ruder 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match. Freshmen Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark., beat Scott Milner and Ben Allen 8-2 in the No. 3 doubles match. The Lions won all but one of their singles matches in straight sets, except for Da Silva who beat Schaeffer 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. UA Fort Smith, however, couldn’t pull off the sweep. The Lady Bison beat the short-handed Lady Lions 5-1. The No. 2 doubles team of freshmen Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas, and Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo., beat the Camber Robinett and Brooke Mowery 9-7 to post the Lady Lions’ only win. The Lions will host the Bison again at noon on Saturday at Creekmore Tennis Center, while the Lady Lions will host NCAA Division II Missouri Southern University at 2 p.m. JUNIOR COLLEGE TENNIS MEN UA FORT SMITH 8, OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 1 Doubles Bruno Scacalossi and Gustavo Schaefer, OBU, def. Evan Piche and Matheus Da Silva, UA Fort Smith, 8-2 Kane Olsen and Cameron Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Michael Canavan and Lance Ruder, OBU, 8-2 Martin Tabler and Andrew Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Scott Milner and Ben Allen, OBU, 8-2 Singles Olsen, UA Fort Smith, def. Scacalossi, OBU, 6-4, 6-3 Da Silva, UA Fort Smith, def. Schaefer, OBU, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 Terrell, UA Fort Smith, def. Canavan, OBU, 6-2, 6-3 Piche, UA Fort Smith, def. Milner, OBU, 6-3, 7-5 Tabler, UA Fort Smith, def. Ruder, OBU, 6-3, 6-3 Todd, UA Fort Smith, def. Allen, OBU, 6-0, 6-0 WOMEN OKLAHOMA BAPTIST 5, UA FORT SMITH 1 Doubles Samantha Attard and Paola Costa, OBU, def. McKenzie McCullough and Tamra Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 8-4 Charlotte Delvaux and Shawna Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, def. Camber Robinett and Brooke Mowery, OBU, 9-7 Singles Attard, OBU, def. Delvaux, UA Fort Smith, 6-2, 6-2 Costa, OBU, def. Bryson, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0 Robinett, OBU, def. Pohlers, UA Fort Smith, 6-4, 6-2 Mowery, OBU, def. McCullough, UA Fort Smith, 6-0, 6-0 | |
| Lions, Lady Lions Open Fall Home Slate | Thu, Sep 18, 2008 |
| The forecast for Friday calls for temperatures in the low 80s with only a small threat of an isolated shower. It’s not quite perfect weather, but it’s close enough for University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury. After spending the early part of the fall term scrimmaging against each other, Huckelbury’s Lions and Lady Lions are ready to finally play some matches against another team. They will get their chance this weekend. “We’re tired of playing each other and are ready to play somebody else,” Huckelbury said. “It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend.” UA Fort Smith will host NAIA Division I Oklahoma Baptist University in men’s and women’s matches at 2 p.m. on Friday at Creekmore Tennis Center. The Lions will play Oklahoma Baptist again at noon on Saturday at Creekmore Tennis Center, and the Lady Lions will play NCAA Division II Missouri Southern University at 2 p.m. “Oklahoma Baptist will have a good team,” Huckelbury said. “Missouri Southern will have a good team, too.” The fall schedule, which includes three home dates, will give Huckelbury ample time to chart the progress of his young teams. The Lions boast only two sophomores – Ryan Harris of Shawnee, Okla., and Even Piche of Houston, Texas – on their eight-player roster, and the Lady Lions have only two sophomores – Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., and McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla. – on their six-player roster. “It will give me the chance to see who’s good under pressure,” Huckelbury said. “We have so many freshmen. The women are so even right now, and I’m not sure who our No. 1 is right now. Our guys … I have a pretty good feel for them right now, but that could change really quickly.” | |
| Former Lions Sign Letters Of Intent | Mon, Jul 21, 2008 |
| Former University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions Caio Cardoso and Tiago Vilarinho recently signed national letters of intent to play tennis at four-year universities. Cardoso signed with Webber International University in Babson Park, Fla., while Vilarinho signed with Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Cardoso, a native of Uberlandia, Brazil, was the Lions’ No. 1 singles player for two seasons. He finished this past regular season ranked No. 17 nationally with a 14-8 singles record and teamed with Vilarinho to form the Lions’ No. 1 doubles team, which finished the regular season with a 9-5 record and No. 12 ranking. He advanced to the Sweet 16 of singles play in the NJCAA national tournament this past May, and he and Vilarinho advanced to the second round of doubles play. Webber International competes at the NAIA level and traditionally is ranked in the Top 30 nationally. The Warriors compete in the Florida Sun Conference along with the likes of Florida Memorial University, Embry Riddle University and Savannah College of Art and Design. Cardoso is expected to battle for one of the Warriors’ top three singles positions. “Caio was the most-talented player on our team the past two seasons and had an excellent record at No. 1 singles,” UA Fort Smith coach Bob Huckelbury said. “In a match versus Oklahoma Christian, he defeated the No. 8 player in NAIA in straight sets. I expect Caio to be an instant contributor at Webber and to see his name in the national rankings in the near future.” Vilarinho, a native of Uberlandia, Brazil, was the Lions’ No. 2 singles player for two seasons. He finished this past regular season with an 18-10 record and a No. 21 ranking. Vilarinho advanced to the Sweet 16 of singles play in the national tournament. Midwestern State competes at the NCAA Division II level and finished the regular season ranked 29th in the nation. The Mustangs compete in the Lone Star Conference with the likes of Abilene Christian, the University of Central Oklahoma and Southeastern Oklahoma State. “Their coach is excited to get Tiago and expects him to play a solid No. 3 or No. 4 for their team,” Huckelbury said. “Tiago was a joy to have on my team for two seasons and an excellent student, player, and team captain. I expect him to be very successful at Midwestern and in life.” | |
| Huckelbury Signs 10 Recruits | Mon, Jul 21, 2008 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis coach Bob Huckelbury recently put the finishing touches on his 2008 recruiting class, and it was a big task for the fourth-year coach. You see, only two men’s players and two women’s players return from teams that finished seventh and 23rd, respectively, in the national tournament this past spring. “It was a busy year recruiting,” Huckelbury said. “I’m looking forward to getting them all on campus.” Huckelbury signed six players to reload his Lions team – Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; Kane Olsen of Rotorua, New Zealand; Cameron Terrell of Little Rock, Ark.; Andrew Todd of Bentonville, Ark.; Martin Tabler of Bentonville, Ark.; and Josh Helland of Corinth, Texas. Da Silva, a 5-foot-7 freshman, graduated from Colegio Sigma High School in Brasilia, Brazil. He was ranked 28th in the nation while competing in the 16-and-under division. He also played for the Brasilia team during the National Team Championships for three years (2004-06). He was a two-time champion of the Master’s Tennis Open. He also was the second-ranked singles player in Brasilia in 2004 and was a quarterfinalist at the National Championships in 2005. “Matheus is an extremely quick and fast all-court player,” Huckelbury said. “He will work hard in practice and on the court for victories.” Olsen, a 5-11 freshman, has played since he was 9-years-old and was No. 1 in the Rotorua region for three-consecutive years before moving to Waikato. He was No. 1 on his high school team for three years and helped lead the team to the gold medal in the 2004 National Secondary School Championships. He was consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationally and was ranked as high as sixth in 2004. Olsen represented the Waikato junior and senior team at nationals from 2002-2008. “He’s an all-court player,” Huckelbury said. Terrell, a 6-3 freshman, was the No. 3 singles player in the state during his final season of competing in the Arkansas Junior Tennis Association and was ranked as high as 75th in the USTA’s Southern Division. “Cameron is a smart, steady, all-court player,” Huckelbury said. Todd, a 6-0 freshman, played singles and doubles for Bentonville High School’s state runner-up team. He was undefeated in doubles play and was 17-2 in singles play. He has consistently been ranked in the Top 10 in the Arkansas Junior Tennis Association. “Andrew is a strong all-court athlete with a big serve and forehand,” Huckelbury said. Tabler, a 5-10 freshman, played singles and doubles for Bentonville High School’s state runner-up team. He was 68-0 in singles play and 69-4 in doubles play during his high school career. He was state runner-up as a junior and senior and was named All-State as a junior. He was consistently ranked in the Top 10 of the Arkansas Junior Tennis Association and finished the year ranked seventh in the state. “Martin was also a starting pitcher for the Bentonville High School baseball team, and he’s a left-hander,” Huckelbury added. Helland, a 5-11 freshman, is an honor graduate of Lake Dallas High School, where he was the No. 1 player. “Josh is a quick and fast athlete and has risen to a high level of tennis in only five years despite having little competition in his area,” Huckelbury said. “With Josh’s natural talent and work ethic, we expect him to bring his game to a new level in his first year with the team.” The new recruits will join returning sophomores Ryan Harris of Shawnee, Okla., who finished 12-12 this past spring while playing No. 4 singles for the Lions, and Evan Piche of Houston, Texas, who had 15 wins while playing No. 2 doubles and 17 wins while playing No. 5 singles for the Lions this past spring. Huckelbury signed four players to reload his Lady Lions team – Stanislava Harvanova of Mississuaga, Ontario; Charlotte Delvaux of Flower Mound, Texas; Tamra Bryson of La Porte, Texas; and Shawna Pohlers of Nixa, Mo. Huckelbury also anticipates added a couple of walk-ons in the coming weeks. Harvanova, a 5-5 freshman, is a native of the Czech Republic but moved to Ontario in 2003. Harvanova is multi-talented, competing in karate, soccer, basketball and tennis as a teenager, but has focused on tennis and basketball the past few years. She was ranked in the Top 30 as an under-18 junior tennis player in Ontario. She was named MVP of her high school basketball and tennis teams. “She’s an all-court player with a strong forehand and a one-handed backhand,” Huckelbury said. Delvaux, a 5-3 freshman, was born in Switzerland but grew up in Atlanta, Ga., and Flower Mound, where she graduated with honors. She has played tennis since she was 11-years-old and was ranked as high as 60th in the Texas SuperChamps Division. She was 9-1 in singles and 10-0 in doubles during her senior season at Flower Mound. “She is an excellent all-court player, and we expect her to immediately make a strong impact for the Lady Lions tennis team,” Huckelbury said. Bryson, a 5-4 freshman, played No. 1 singles and doubles at La Porte. During her prep career, Bryson was district champion in singles, mixed doubles and doubles. She was ranked as high as 50th in Texas SuperChamps singles. “Tamra has a powerful serve and big groundstrokes off both sides,” Huckelbury said. “She also is an accomplished doubles player and known for her mental toughness.” Pohlers, a 5-10 freshman, was the No. 1 singles and doubles player at Nixa High School during all four of her prep seasons and compiled a 15-4 singles record as a senior. She was ranked as high as 34th among juniors in the Missouri Valley Tennis Association. “Shawna has a very strong serve and groundstroke and can attack the net as well with her height,” Huckelbury said. The new recruits will be joined by returning sophomores McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla., who was 22-14 at No. 4 singles and 21-2 at No. 2 doubles this past spring, and Jennie Blackim of Broken Arrow, Okla., who redshirted this past spring because of injury. | |
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