DURANT, Okla. – Looking for their first unbeaten conference season since 2012, the No. 46-ranked Arkansas Tech women's tennis team fell just shy of that feat on Saturday afternoon narrowly losing on the road to Southeastern Oklahoma, 4-3.
The Golden Suns (11-7, 4-1 GAC) started off well as they captured the doubles point thanks to 6-2 wins at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Once the doubles point was clinched, the top-flight match was halted and left unfinished with Tech's
Lea Grinberg and
Aastha Dargude leading 4-3.
In singles, the Golden Suns captured the first point with an impressive 6-1, 6-3 victory by Grinberg (No. 40-ranked singles player). Southeastern Oklahoma then got their first point of the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 6.
Daniela Baez would put the Golden Suns one point away from a match victory as she won her No. 2 singles match 6-1, 6-4.
Unfortunately, the Savage Storm (6-12, 3-2 GAC) put forth strong showings at flights three, four and five and won those in succession to come-from-behind and win the match.
Despite the loss in their regular season finale, the Golden Suns are poised to make a run in the GAC Championship Tournament coming next weekend as they will enter as the top-seed. As the top-seed, the Golden Suns earned a first-round bye and will await the winner of the No. 4 and No. 5 match between Henderson State (No. 4) and Harding (No. 5).
Tech's opening match of the tournament against that winner will take place on Friday, April 21 at the Memorial Park Tennis Complex in Bentonville. First-serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
