LAFAYETTE, La. (3/29/13) – The Arkansas State women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision to conference opponent Louisiana-Lafayette Friday at Cajun Courts in Lafayette. 

A-State drops to 4-6 on the season and 0-4 against conference opponents, while the Ragin' Cajuns improve to 12-8 on the season.

ASU's only point on the day came from Tamara Slijepcevic.  Slijepcevic was about to defeat Sophie Van den Aarssen 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.  A-State also had a win in the No. 2 doubles matchup as Slijepcevic/Jess Heeps-Eriksen defeated the 79th ranked doubles pair in the nation of Melissa Burckhartt/Juliette Clement.

In other singles action, Janie Nowland fell to Nicole Breaux 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 and Biljana Miloshevska lost a tough match to Melissa Burckhartt by a sore of 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9).  Ioana Teu lost in straight sets to Sandra Ahlqvist 6-1, 6-2 and Sofia Krsmanovic fell in straight sets to Hannah Appleyard by a count of 6-4, 6-3.  Heeps-Eriksen had her three-match winning streak snapped by Bailey VanDyke in a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 decision.

Despite the big win in doubles from Slijepcevic /Heeps-Eriksen, the Red Wolves weren't able to secure the doubles point as Teu/Nowland fell to Breaux/Van den Aarssen 8-2 and Chiara Stefanov/Miloshevska were defeated by Ahlqvist/VanDyke 9-8 (7-4).

“This was a disappointing match,” ASU tennis coach Marina Engelbrecht said.  “I thought Tamara and Biljana played great singles.  It takes a team effort to win and I hope we can learn from this and play with heart and desire tomorrow.”

The Red Wolves are back in action tomorrow as they take on the Colonels of Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La. at noon.  Nicholls State enters tomorrow's contest with an 8-10 record and has lost two straight matches.

Singles Competition

1. Tamara Slijepcevic (ASU) def. Sophie Van den Aarssen (ULL) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4

2. Nicole Breaux (ULL) def. Janie Nowland (ASU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-2

3. Melissa Burckhartt (ULL) def. Biljana Miloshevska (ASU) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9)

4. Sandra Ahlqvist (ULL) def. Ioana Teu (ASU) 6-1, 6-2

5. Bailey VanDyke (ULL) def. Jess Heeps-Eriksen (ASU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

6. Hannah Appleyard (ULL) def. Sofia Krsmanovic (ASU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles Competition

1. Nicole Breaux/Sophie Van den Aarssen (ULL) def. Ioana Teu/Janie Nowland (ASU) 8-2

2. Tamara Slijepcevic/Jess Heeps-Eriksen(ASU) def. #79 Melissa Burckhartt/Juliette Clement (ULL) 8-5