MONROE, La. (9/10/21) – Seven singles victories and a perfect 3-0 day in doubles saw the Arkansas State women's tennis team pick up 10 total wins in the season opener at the Warhawk Invitational Friday.
 
Roper went 2-0 in singles' Gold Division, rallying back for both victories. In her first contest, Roper dropped the opening set 4-6 to Paula Cerda of Stephen F. Austin, but rallied for a 6-2 triumph in set two and a 10-6 decision in the tiebreaker. After falling 6-0 in first set to Hala Badwy of ULM, Roper came back with a 6-2 set two decision and a 10-7 tiebreak to advance to the bracket final Saturday at 11 a.m. Thea Rice also played in the Gold Division and suffered a narrow 6-4, 2-6 (9-11) decision against Putri Insani of Southeastern Louisiana. Rice fell 2-6, 0-6 in her second match to Nyah Kauders (Stephen F. Austin).
 
Nejla Zukic played in the Burgundy Division for singles' and defeated Brianna Gomez (ULM) 7-6 (5), 4-6 (10-6) and followed with a 4-6, 6-2 (10-7) victory over Flory Bierma (Southeastern Louisiana) to move to the final Saturday at 11 a.m. In the Black Division singles' bracket, Emily Surcey had a first round bye and then defeated Sonya Kanarskaya (Southeastern Louisiana 6-2, 6-4. Sofiia Vdovychenko fell 1-6, 3-6 to Elise Frigout (Stephen F. Austin), but defeated Polina Sleptsova (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-4, 7-6 (3). Rebecca Brody earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jordan Burdett (Southeastern Louisiana), but fell to Elena Bleicher (Stephen F. Austin) 7-6 (4), 3-6 (8-10) in a hard-fought match. Yasmine Humbert was defeated by Giovanna Pereira (ULM) 3-6, 3-6 and 3-6, 1-6 to Bogi Csordas (Southeastern Louisiana).
 
Roper teamed up with Surcey in doubles and the pair defeated a duo from ULM 6-2. Rice was paired with Zukic and earned a 6-2 decision over a pair of Stephen F. Austin. Brody and Vdovychenko picked up a 6-4 victory over a Southeastern Louisiana duo.
 
Saturday will feature two doubles matches and one singles match. Action is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. For the latest on A-State tennis, follow the team on Twitter @AStateTennis.
 
Singles
Gold Division
Hunter Roper def Paula Cerda (Stephen F. Austin) 4-6, 6-2 (10-6)
Hunter Roper def Hala Badwy (ULM) 0-6, 6-2 (10-7)
Thea Rice lost to Putri Insani (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-4, 2-6 (9-11)
Thea Rice lost to Nyah Kauders (Stephen F. Austin) 2-6, 0-6
 
Burgundy Division
Nejla Zukic def Brianna Gomze (ULM) 7-6 (5), 4-6 (10-6)
Nejla Zukic def Lucy Furness (Stephen F. Austin) 4-6, 6-2 (10-7)
 
Black Division
Emily Surcey advanced on bye
Emily Surcey def Sonya Kanarskaya (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-2, 6-4
Sofiia Vdovychenko lost to Elise Frigout (Stephen F. Austin) 1-6, 3-6
Sofiia Vdovychenko def Polina Sleptsova (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
 
White Division
Rebecca Brody def Jordan Burdett (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-1, 6-0
Rebecca Brody lost to Elena Bleicher (Stephen F. Austin) 7-6 (4), 3-6 (8-10).
Yasmine Humbert lost to Giovanna Pereira (ULM) 3-6, 3-6
Yasmine Humbert lost to Bogi Csordas (Southeastern Louisiana) 3-6, 1-6
 
Doubles
War
Roper/Surcey def Badwy/Pereira (ULM) 6-2
Zukic/Rice def Frigout/Fabre (Stephen F. Austin) 6-2
 
Hawks
Brody/Vdovychenko def Burdett/Csordas (Southeastern Louisiana) 6-4