RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Chartwells Women's Sports Complex has been more than good to the Arkansas Tech women's tennis team this season and on Monday afternoon, the Golden Suns closed the chapter on the 2020-21 regular season at home unblemished with an impressive 5-2 win over Southern Arkansas.
 
The win, which pushed the Golden Suns (9-3, 3-0 GAC) to 6-0 at home also increased their winning streak to five matches and was the first win for the Suns against SAU since the Lady Muleriders resurrected their program in 2018-19.
 
On Monday, the Golden Suns got the match off to a great start winning the doubles point thanks to wins at flights two and three. The No. 3 doubles duo of Megan Bell and Isabella Major were first to complete their match and won 6-2. Lea Grinberg and Daniela Baez needed one more game before coming to a 6-3 victory. At the top-flight, Michelle Khoo and Aastha Dargude battled back to force a tie-breaker set and narrowly lost.
 
The momentum from the doubles point carried over into singles play and the Golden Suns were quick to race out to a 3-0 advantage in singles play winning at flights No. 4 and No. 6. Baez was at No. 4 singles and did not surrender a game, winning 6-0, 6-0. Major was nearly as dominant winning her match, 6-2, 6-1.
 
Needing just one more singles win, the Golden Suns did not sweat the theatrics as Lea Grinberg won her No. 2 singles match 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the match for the Suns.
 
With the match in hand, SAU picked up their first point at No. 5 singles as SAU's Smith won the tie-breaking third set, 6-1. No. 1 singles went to a third set as well and Dargude was able to come away with the win, 6-1.
 
An epic match remained at No. 1 singles as Khoo, who was celebrating her senior day, and Milosevic battled to a third-set as well. The decisive set would be won by Milosevic 10-8.
 
The Golden Suns will now look to carry their winning ways on the road as each of their last three matched are on the road. The next two will take place over the weekend as they travel to Shawnee, Okla. on Friday for a 3 p.m. match against Oklahoma Baptist. The following day, the Golden Suns head over to Durant to take on Southeastern Oklahoma in an 11 a.m. match.
 
Arkansas Tech 5 – Southern Arkansas 2
DOUBLES RESULTS (3,2,1)

1. Sarah Roy/Kalley Smith (SAU) def. Michelle Khoo/Aastha Dargude (ATU) 7-6 (5)
2. Lea Grinberg/Daniela Baez (ATU) def. Lena Milosevic/Serena Gill (SAU) 6-3
3. Megan Bell/Isabell Major (ATU) def. Finley Blair/Haylie Hunger (SAU) 6-2

 
SINGLES COMPETITION (4.6.2,5,3,1)

1. Lena Milosevic (SAU) def. Michelle Khoo (ATU) 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
2. Lea Grinberg (ATU) def. Serena Gill (SAU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Aastha Dargude (ATU) def. Sarah Roy (SAU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
4. Daniela Baez (ATU) def. Haylie Hunger (SAU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Kalley Smith (SAU) def. Megan Bell (ATU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Isabella Major (ATU) def. Finley Blair (SAU) 6-2, 6-1