Box Score CONWAY, Arkansas – The McNeese tennis team defeated Central Arkansas 4-3 in a Southland Conference match-up on Saturday securing its spot in the conference tournament.

The Southland Conference tournament consists of the top eight teams in the conference. With Southeastern (5-10, 2-5 SLC) and New Orleans (8-8, 2-5) losing matches today the Cowgirls have secured at least a number seven seed with three conference matches remaining, all three will be played at home.

The Cowgirls (11-2, 7-1 SLC) have won seven matches in a row, five of which were against conference opponents. UCA (10-5, 3-3 SLC) dropped to even in conference play with the loss and have lost two in a row to conference foes.

Starting the day for the Cowgirls in doubles competition Giovanna Fioretti and Marija Mastilovic would fall to UCA's Chunan Xiang and Amiru Shimoguchi giving the Sugar Bears an early advantage.

Next to finish in the number one spot Cowgirl's Sarah Jurakova and Hannah Brett would defeat the duo of Pornpawee Pramethong and Marlie Van Heerden to even the score for the doubles point.

With the doubles point on the line McNeese's Charoline Erlandsson and Phonexay Chitdara went on to defeat Quili Ma and Rada Manataweewat to give the Cowgirls and early 1-0 victory heading into singles play.

Jurakova would finish first in the number two spot and extend the Cowgirls lead on the day. Jurakova defeated UCA's Xiang in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.

In the number one spot Fioretti would fall in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 to her UCA counterpart Pramethong to put the Sugar Bears on the board.

Erlandsson would finish next at the number five spot defeating Shimoguchi. Shimoguch would get the best of Erlandsson in the first set defeating her 6-3. Erlandsson would come roaring back to defeat the Sugar Bear 6-1, 6-4 in the next two sets to secure the point for McNeese.

In the number three spot Brett fought hard in three sets against Hee-Jin Oh of UCA. Brett dropped the first set 4-6 before winning the second 6-2. In the final set Brett would fall to Oh 6-3.

In the number six spot Chitdara would fall to Van Heerdan in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) and 6-4.
With the match tied at three a piece both teams were counting on their number four spot players to secure the victory.

Mastilovic would drop the first set to UCA's Ma 1-6. In the second set both competitors would fight hard before Mastilovic secured a tie breaking victory 7-6 (7-5). With the game on the line Mastilovic buckled down and defeated Ma 6-3 to secure the victory for the Cowgirls.

"What an amazing fight today! UCA came at us hard with all of their weapons but we showed so much character and fight to clinch the match in our favor," said head coach Helena Besovic. "We have a lot of respect for UCA and today was a great match."

The Cowgirls will rest for two days before traveling to Houston to face Rice in a non-conference match-up Tuesday.
 
Tennis Match Results
McNeese vs Central Arkansas
3/31/2018 at Conway, Ark.
(UCA Tennis Courts)
 
McNeese 4, Central Arkansas 3
 
Singles competition
1. Pornpawee Pramethong (UCA) def. Giovanna Fioretti (MCN) 6-2, 6-4
2. Sarah Jurakova (MCN) def. Chunan Xiang (UCA) 6-1, 6-1
3. Hee-Jin Oh (UCA) def. Hannah Brett (MCN) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
4. Marjia Mastilovic (MCN) def. QiLi Ma (UCA) 4-6, 7-6, 6-4
5. Charoline Erlandsson (MCN) def. Amiru Shimoguchi (UCA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
6. Marli Van Heerden (UCA) def. Phonexay Chitdara (MCN) 7-6 (4-0), 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Sarah Jurakova/Hannah Brett (MCN) def. Pornpawee Pramethong/Marli Van Heerden (UCA) 6-4
2. Chunan Xiang/Amiru Shimoguchi (UCA) def. Giovanna Fioretti/Marjia Mastilovic (MCN) 6-4
3. Charoline Erlandsson/Phonexay Chitdara (MCN) def. QiLi Ma/Rada Manataweewat (UCA) 7-6 (8-0)
 
Match Notes:
McNeese 12-2, 7-1 SLC
Central Arkansas 10-5, 3-3 SLC
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,2,5,3,6,4)
Official: Jason Lyon