OBU women’s tennis competes at ATU Tennis Slam

T he Ouachita Baptist women’s tennis team was in action over the weekend at the Second Annual Golden Suns Tennis Slam at the Chartwells Complex.
In Flight 1 of singles play, Anna Carson of Arkansas Tech defeated Mariana Divardin, 6-1, 6-3 and Cecile Benzaki of Delta State beat Tavu Fa, 6-1, 6-0. In the consolation bracket, Fa fell to Arkansas Tech’s Saki Matusoka, 8-5 and Divardin lost to Jenny Paine of Southeastern Oklahoma State, 8-1.

Kristie Reid won her match over Briar Vona of the University of the Ozarks in Flight 2 singles play, 6-0, 6-0, but fell to Myra Leal of Southeastern Oklahoma State in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 6-4. Natalia Drada also lost in quarterfinal action, losing to Delta State’s Krystle Ozols, 6-1, 6-0. In consolation bracket play, Drada beat Henderson State’s Meredith Massey, 9-7 and advanced to the finals with a 5-0 victory over Vona. Drada picked up the consolation singles championship with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Lea Rena of the University of the Ozarks.

In Flight 3 play, Amber Thompson of Southeastern Oklahoma State beat Katie Potts, 7-5, 6-1, while Thoko Zulu fell to University of Ozarks Brittany Hein, 6-3, 6-1. Both moved in consolation play and Potts opened in quarterfinal action with a 9-8 (2-0) win over Arkansas-Fort Smith’s Molly Hudson. Henderson State’s Stephanie Schnobel downed Potts in the semifinals, 8-1.

Annie Gerber lost to Sara Schmidt of Southeastern Oklahoma State, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of Flight 4. Gerber, who moved into the consolation bracket, beat Lindsey Hanna of the University of the Ozarks, 8-3 and advanced to the championship match with an 8-2 victory over Kimberly Roberts of Henderson State. She won the final with a 6-3, 6-2 win over the University of the Ozarks Rosemary Dedman.

In doubles competition in Flight 1, Divardin and Reid advanced to the quarterfinals with an 8-0 win over Lea Rena and Lauren Jardieu of the University of the Ozarks. However, Divardin and Reid fell in the quarterfinals to Krystle Ozols and Katharina Nett of Delta State, 8-5. Fa and Drada, also in quarterfinal action, defeated Tamara Bryson and Kenzie McCullough of Arkansas-Fort Smith, 8-1. The pair was defeated in the semifinals by Delta State’s Cecile Benzaki and Tatiana Bouchard, 8-5.

In Flight 2 doubles, Potts and Gerber won their match 9-7 over Southeastern Oklahoma’s Sara Schmidt and Maria Volohkova. The pair was defeated in the semifinals by Estephanie Lau and Stephanie Schnobel of Henderson State, 8-3.