RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The No. 18-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team collected an 8-1 victory over Arkansas Tech Wednesday afternoon at Chartwells Tennis Complex.
 
The RiverHawks improved to 4-0 on the season, while earning a decisive decision over a Golden Suns (2-5) squad that competed in the NCAA Championship last season.
 
The match began with NSU sweeping doubles competition and never looking back. The visitors got on the board at the third position where junior Valeriia Efimenko and true freshman Karla Tomaic earned an 8-1 decision over Teresa Sanchez and Annabel Rowlands.
 
The sophomore tandem of Daria Panferova and Easton Parker scored an 8-5 win on the second court over Laura Sanchez and Camila Roca. Senior Patricia Husakova and sophomore Molly Worden, the nation's No. 21-ranked doubles team, closed doubles with a 9-8 (7-5) triumph over Tamara Bell and Macarena Sedano Acosta at the top of the order.
 
Northeastern State took each of the first five decisions in singles action before ATU finally got on the board with the final match of the day.
 
Worden, the nation's No. 46-ranked singles player, defeated Teresa Sanches 6-1, 6-0 on the third court. Efimenko clinched the match victory with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Roca at the fifth position. She was quickly followed off court by Husakova, the nation's No. 30-ranked singles player, after she earned a 6-0, 6-2 win on the top court over Acosta.
 
Panforeva defeated Bell 6-1, 6-0 on court No. 2, and Tomaic topped Maria Vlaskina 6-4, 6-1 at the sixth flight for the eighth point of the day for the RiverHawks.
 
Rowlands ended the match with a 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (10-7) win over Parker at the fourth position for Arkansas Tech's lone point.

Northeastern State will now prepare for its Spring Break, as the RiverHawks will travel to Florida for three matches. First up will be an 11 a.m. contest March 12 against No. 3 Saint Leo.

Tennis Match Results
Mar 02, 2016 at Russellville, Ark.
(Chartwells Tennis Complex)
 
#18 Northeastern State 8, Arkansas Tech 1
 
Singles Competition
1. #30 Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Macarena Sedano Acosta (ATU) 6-0, 6-2
2. Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Tamara Bell (ATU) 6-1, 6-0
3. #46 Molly Worden (NSU) def. Teresa Sanchez (ATU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Annabel Rowlands (ATU) def. Easton Parker (NSU) 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (10-7)
5. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) def. Camila Roca (ATU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Maria Vlaskina (ATU) 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles Competition
1. #21 Patricia Husakova/Molly Worden (NSU) def. Tamara Bell/Macarena Sedano Acosta (ATU) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Daria Panferova/Easton Parker (NSU) def. Laura Sanchez/Camila Roca (ATU) 8-5
3. Valeriia Efimenko/Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Teresa Sanchez/Annabel Rowlands (ATU) 8-1
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 4-0; National ranking #18
Arkansas Tech 2-5
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,1,2,6,4)
 
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