2008 Woodie Awards
Lady'Back tennis making history
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Sports
The No. 14 Arkansas Lady'Back tennis team will look to clinch the Southeastern Conference Western Division title for the first time in program history when it takes on Ole Miss and Mississippi State at home this weekend at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
The Lady'Backs (13-6, 6-2 SEC) have clinched a share of the title, but will look to take full control with a win over Ole Miss today at 3 p.m., Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said.
"We are excited about the weekend, playing these division rivals," Hegarty said. "We are excited to try to clinch the Western Division title out right. Both teams are playing quite well right now."
Ole Miss is coming off a 5-2 win over No. 23 Kentucky while Mississippi State lost to No. 13 Vanderbilt 4-2 in its last match.
With this weekend being senior weekend, the Sunday match against Mississippi State at noon will be the last regular season match for Audrey Bordeleau and Maryori Franco.
Both Bordeleau and Franco were a part of the first recruiting class for Hegarty, and both players have been a big part of turning the program around, Hegarty said.
"I'm really proud of both of them," Hegarty said. "They have come through quite a four-year period. At the beginning it was not so bright, but now we are doing some really great things."
Both players have made an impact on the team this year as Bordeleau, a Quebec City native, is 14-4 in singles play this year with a 5-3 record in the SEC.
She also clinched a top 10 win against Vanderbilt and a top 20 win against Kentucky in the same weekend this season.
Franco, from Barranquilla, Colombia, clinched the win against No. 6 Georgia this year when the team needed her most, which Hegarty regards as the highlight of her distinguished career. Franco is 7-8 in singles play on the season with a 4-4 record in the SEC.
"Two of the big reasons why things are going so well is because of these individuals," Hegarty said. "It's really great to see them playing so well in their senior years."
But the season isn't over, and the seniors know that as they head into the senior weekend with the mindset that they still have things they hope to accomplish, Hegarty said.
"It has been a special year for them, but they have some pretty big things ahead of them that they hope to accomplish rather than just think about what they have already done," Hegarty said.
The Lady'Backs (13-6, 6-2 SEC) have clinched a share of the title, but will look to take full control with a win over Ole Miss today at 3 p.m., Arkansas head coach Michael Hegarty said.
"We are excited about the weekend, playing these division rivals," Hegarty said. "We are excited to try to clinch the Western Division title out right. Both teams are playing quite well right now."
Ole Miss is coming off a 5-2 win over No. 23 Kentucky while Mississippi State lost to No. 13 Vanderbilt 4-2 in its last match.
With this weekend being senior weekend, the Sunday match against Mississippi State at noon will be the last regular season match for Audrey Bordeleau and Maryori Franco.
Both Bordeleau and Franco were a part of the first recruiting class for Hegarty, and both players have been a big part of turning the program around, Hegarty said.
"I'm really proud of both of them," Hegarty said. "They have come through quite a four-year period. At the beginning it was not so bright, but now we are doing some really great things."
Both players have made an impact on the team this year as Bordeleau, a Quebec City native, is 14-4 in singles play this year with a 5-3 record in the SEC.
She also clinched a top 10 win against Vanderbilt and a top 20 win against Kentucky in the same weekend this season.
Franco, from Barranquilla, Colombia, clinched the win against No. 6 Georgia this year when the team needed her most, which Hegarty regards as the highlight of her distinguished career. Franco is 7-8 in singles play on the season with a 4-4 record in the SEC.
"Two of the big reasons why things are going so well is because of these individuals," Hegarty said. "It's really great to see them playing so well in their senior years."
But the season isn't over, and the seniors know that as they head into the senior weekend with the mindset that they still have things they hope to accomplish, Hegarty said.
"It has been a special year for them, but they have some pretty big things ahead of them that they hope to accomplish rather than just think about what they have already done," Hegarty said.
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