MONROE, La. (4/18/08) ? Arkansas State's women's tennis team didn't allow a six-hour rain delay put a damper on the first round of play as the Lady Indians defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 4-1, Friday night at the Sun Belt Conference Tennis Championships.
ASU, now 13-9, won three singles and the doubles point to take the win from the Warhawks to advance to play second-seeded South Alabama Saturday. That match gets underway at 8 a.m.
The Lady Indians, the seventh seed, were scheduled to play ULM in the first match of the day at 8 a.m. Friday when several thunderstorms passed through the area causing a delay. The stoppage lasted over six hours before the rain ended and the courts were dried.
“The delay didn't hurt our concentration,” said ASU Head Coach Marcia Williams. “We played very well at doubles. The girls were looking forward to playing ULM and they are looking forward to playing South Alabama.”
USA's Lady Jaguars are ranked 45th nationally.
Arkansas State 4, Louisiana-Monroe 1
Singles competition
1. Maria Oprea (ASU) def. Noelia Leon (ULM) 6-3, 6-2
2. Lena Satge (ULM) vs. Paula Chelminska (ASU) 4-6, 3-4, unfinished
3. Rone Van Wyk (ASU) def. Ana Burjaili (ULM) 6-2, 6-1
4. Leydi Zora (ASU) def. Giovanna Arrondo (ULM) 6-2, 6-4
5. Marion Lehmann (ULM) vs. Renee Branker (ASU) 3-6, 6-6, unfinished
6. Sharon Makhanya (ULM) def. Emily Laing (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Emily Laing/Renee Branker (ASU) def. Noelia Leon/Sharon Makhanya (ULM) 8-4
2. Giovanna Arrondo/Marion Lehmann (ULM) vs. Maria Oprea/Paula Chelminska (ASU) 3-5, unfinished
3. Rone Van Wyk/Leydi Zora (ASU) def. Ana Burjaili/Lena Satge (ULM) 8-5
END
