CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's tennis (5-3) continues its non-conference slate Wednesday when the Redhawks take on Arkansas State (4-6) in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The dual is slated to begin at 1 p.m., CT at the A-State Tennis Complex.
The two schools were scheduled to play each other earlier this year on Feb. 4, but the match was postponed due to inclement weather.
LAST TIME OUT
SEMO picked up its fifth win of the season and fourth straight when it hosted Bradley on March 5 at the Redhawks Tennis Complex.
The match was moved from 12 p.m. to 10 a.m. start time due to windy conditions in the Cape Girardeau area.
After losing the doubles point, SEMO wrapped up the match with six-straight singles victories en route to a 6-1 victory.
Romana Tarajova defeated Bozana Lojpur of Bradley by a final score of 6-0, 6-2 to even the match at 1-1. Tarajova, the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year, currently boasts an overall record of 4-2 this season, with her two losses coming against Kentucky and Missouri, respectively.
Daniela Hlacikova played at the No. 2 singles position, defeating Kirstin Hailey, 6-3, 6-3.
Myroslava Zelenchuk, took down Madalena Andrade, 6-0, 6-4, at third singles for her fourth-straight victory in 2022.
Ksenia Shikanova defeated Maria Bezmenova (6-4, 6-1) at No. 4 singles, recording her fourth-straight win this season.
Zelenchuk is tied with Hlacikova and Shikanova for first on the Redhawks in 2022 with five singles wins.
Teona Velkoska (7-5, 6-4) and
Vivian Lai (6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3)) wrapped up the match for the Redhawks with victories at the No. 6 and No. 5 spots, respectively.
In doubles, Velkoska and Hlacikova pace SEMO in 2022 with a 3-1 mark. The duo notched the lone singles win against Bradley, earning a 6-2 decision over Bozana Lojpur and Nikki Perlwitz.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Arkansas State heads into its midweek matchup with Southeast Missouri with an overall record of 4-6 with wins over Kansas City, Missouri State, Alcorn State and Grambling.
The Red Wolves most recently lost to Texas State, 5-2, on March 4. The match marked the conference opener for the Sun Belt Conference members.
Arkansas State is led in doubles by the pair of Thea Rice and Nejila Zukic who are currently 6-3 on the season, having just defeated the top doubles pair at Texas State.
Emily Surcey has been the Red Wolves most successful singles player thus far and is currently 7-3 in 2022.
LOOKING AHEAD
SEMO next embarks on a trip to North Carolina for three matches over Spring Break. The Redhawks open with matches at Western Carolina on Sunday and at Montreat College on Monday, March 14. SEMO wraps up its trip to The Tar Heel State Thursday, March 17 at Gardner Webb in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
