NSU Upsets No. 28 Tarleton State 6-3

The Northeastern State women's tennis team upset No. 28 Tarleton State 6-3 at the Ouachita Baptist Quad Friday afternoon inside the Heflin Tennis Center.

The RiverHawks (7-1) won their sixth-straight match, while the TexAnns (3-5) have now lost three of their last four matches.

Northeastern State led by a single point following doubles competition and took four of six singles matches to earn the triumph.

The RiverHawks jumped on top 1-0 when senior Ivana Belejova and freshman Kristina Savchenkov defeated Karla Martinez-Hamdan and Makenzie Mitchell 8-6 on the first doubles court.

Tarleton State tied the score at 1-1 when Melanie Barnes and Ivana Zecevic were able to squeak past NSU's junior pair of Jeanne Mallem and Houda Bellamine 9-8 (7-4) at the second position.

Northeastern State took the edge heading into singles play when junior Martina Bruzikova and sophomore Barbora Jirickova overcame a 4-0 deficit to take down Marina Rull-Valdivieso and April Downing 9-8 (7-1) at the bottom of the order.

The RiverHawks are now a combined 20-4 in doubles matches this season.

Bellamine quickly gave Northeastern State a 3-1 lead following a 6-0, 6-0 win over Silvia Nieva-Garcia at the fourth singles spot.

Martinez-Hamdan tipped the scale to 3-2 in favor of the RiverHawks after earning a 6-2, 6-4 win over Belejova at the top of the lineup, but Savchenkov fought back to defeat Zecevic 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 on the second court.

TSU was able to fend off defeat momentarily when Barnes took down Mallem 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 at the third position, but NSU clinched the team victory on court six when Jirickova topped Mitchell 6-0, 6-1.

Bruzikova added a sixth point for Northeastern State with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-0 win over Rull-Valdivieso at the fifth position.

Jiricikova is now 8-0 in singles competition this season, and Bruzikova won her sixth-straight match. Bruzikova, Bellamine and Savchenkov are all 7-1 in singles this year.

The RiverHawks will now face host Ouachita Baptist at 6 p.m. Friday.

Tennis Match Results
Feb 22, 2013 at Arkadelphia, Ark.
(Heflin Tennis Center)

Northeastern State 6, #28 Tarleton State 3

Singles competition

1. Karla Martinez-Hamdan (TSU) def. Ivana Belejova (NSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Ivana Zecevic (TSU) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
3. Melanie Barnes (TSU) def. Jeanne Mallem (NSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
4. Houda Bellamine (NSU) def. Silvia Nieva-Garcia (TSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Martina Bruzikova (NSU) def. Marina Rull-Valdivieso (TSU) 7-6 (7-1), 6-0
6. Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. Makenzie Mitchell (TSU) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Ivana Belejova/Kristina Savchenkov (NSU) def. Karla Martinez-Hamdan/Makenzie Mitchell (TSU) 8-6

2. Melanie Barnes/Ivana Zecevic (TSU) def. Jeanne Mallem/Houda Bellamine (NSU) 9-8 (7-4)

3. Martina Bruzikova/Barbora Jirickova (NSU) def. Marina Rull-Valdivieso/April Downing (TSU) 9-8 (7-1)

Match Notes:
Tarleton State 3-5; National Ranking #28

Northeastern State 7-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3), Singles (4,1,2,3,6,5)