Box score

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – 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.

"Everyone fought hard today, and I'm proud with how we played," NSU coach Amanda Stone said. "Winning two of the doubles matches was huge and gave us the momentum we needed to close it out in singles."

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. tonight.
 
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)
 
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