Tennis Sweeps UALR To Advance To Semifinals

LAFAYETTE, La. (4/19/13) - The No. 60 North Texas tennis team swept UALR 4-0 on its way to advancing to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Friday morning.

"UALR played well today," head coach Sujay Lama said after the win. "We were tested and that should help us for our match tomorrow."

The Mean Green (16-5) jumped to an early 1-0 lead over the Trojans (15-10) after winning doubles matches at the No. 2 and 3 positions.

SBC All-Conference Second Team duo, Kseniya Bardabush and Franziska Sprinkmeyer grabbed an 8-6 victory over UALR's Dané Vorster and Christel Amsallem at the No. 2 spot.

Shortly after Dané Joubert and Ilona Serchenko won the tiebreak 9-8 over UALR's Viktoriya Plyuta and Kamilla Galieva.

"We struggled a bit in doubles but found a way like we have all year long," Lama said.

The three Mean Green seniors stepped up winning their matches in straight sets to give North Texas the victory. Serchenko won the first singles match dropping just three points in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over UALR's Dané Vorster at the No. 5 spot.

SBC All-Conference Second Team member Barbora Vykydalova handed UALR's Yana Kakovkina a 6-2, 6-3 straight set loss at the No. 2 singles position.

Valentina Starkova clinched the match for No. 60 North Texas with a 6-2, 6-2 win over UALR's Kamilla Galieva at the No. 3 position

"Our seniors stepped up in singles and took care of business," Lama added.

No. 1 seed North Texas will continue its quest for a consecutive SBC Championship Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Cajun Courts against No. 4 seed South Alabama. North Texas defeated the Jaguars 4-3 in Mobile on Feb. 17. Fans can watch the match or follow the live stats via the Tennis Championship Central page.


No. 1 North Texas 4, No. 9 UALR 0

April 19, 2013

Red Lerille's Health & Racquet Club

Lafayette, La.


1. Kseniya Bardabush (NT) vs. Veronique Luksich (UALR) 6-7 (6-8), unfinished 

2. Barbora Vykydalova (NT) def. Yana Kakovkina (UALR) 6-2, 6-3 

3. Valentina Starkova (NT) def. Kamilla Galieva (UALR) 6-2, 6-2 

4. Franziska Sprinkmeyer (NT) vs. Viktoriya Plyuta (UALR) 6-7 (3-7), 3-1, unfinished 

5. Ilona Serchenko (NT) def. Dané Vorster (UALR) 6-1, 6-2 

6. Agustina Valenzuela (NT) vs. Michaela McShane (UALR) 5-7, 6-1, unfinished


1. Vykydalova/Starkova (NT) vs. Veronique Luksich/ Michaela McShane (UALR) 7-8, unf.

2. Bardabush/Sprinkmeye (NT) def. Dané Vorster/Christel Amsallem (UALR) 8-6 

3. Joubert/Serchenko (NT) def. Viktoriya Plyuta/Kamilla Galieva (UALR) 9-8 (7-3)

Match Notes

North Texas: 16-5 

UALR: 15-10 

Order of Finish

Doubles: 2, 3

Singles: 5, 2, 3



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