Chang Has Breakout Match At Central Arkansas

Friday, September 23

Conway, Ark.

Murray State

Central Arkansas

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

9/25/2016 11:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis

BOX SCORE (PDF)SEASON STATS (PDF)OVCDN REPLAY Gallery

Murray State's Claire Chang won the title of the first flight at the UCA Fall Invitational when the Racers competed against seven teams at the Central Arkansas Tennis Center in Conway, Arkansas.

Chang, a freshman from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, made good showing in only her second event as a Racer when she defeated players from Central Arkansas and Arkansas State.

For an additional exhibition, Chang took on Southeast Missouri State's Ksenia Zonova. Chang amazingly came back from a 7-1 deficit and ended up running off seven straight games to win 8-7. During the run, Zonova had two match points, but Chang managed to survive and win the one-setter.

"Claire did a fantastic job winning the number one flight," said Racer coach Jorge Caetano. "Coming back and winning that first match gave her the confidence boost she needed to win the tournament. She played really well in the big moments when the pressure is on and that's hard to do as a freshman. I'm excited for her and can't wait to see what the rest of the season is going to bring her.

Amina Hadzic and Alina Schibol each won a match in the second and third flight as each made it to the semifinals. Hannah Rickard was a winner of one match in the sixth flight. Chang and Schibol teamed together and won a pair of double matches to reach the finals.

"We had a very good tournament overall and the girls were able to play more consistent this weekend than last," Caetano added. "I'm very pleased with the way they fought for every point, especially in adverse moments. Amina, Claire and Hannah all saved set points and match points in their matches and were able to come back and win. That shows a lot about the character of this team."

The Racers are on the road again Friday and Saturday (Sept.1 – Oct. 2) when they compete at Wright State.

Match Notes
Claire Chang went 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles for the weekend. In the final she was down 4-1 in the second set and won five straight games to clinch the title.

Amina Hadzic was 2-1 in singles.

Hannah Rickard saved three match points in her semifinal win.

UCA Fall Invitational
Central Arkansas Tennis Center
Conway, Arkansas.
Sept. 24-25, 2016
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1^st Flight
Claire Chang (Murray State) def. Amiru Shimoguch (Central Arkansas) 6-4, 3-6, (10-8)
Claire Change (Murray State) def. Julie Gaugery (Arkansas State) 6-4, 6-3

2^nd Flight
Amina Hadzic def. Shelby King (Arkansas State) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (3)
CeCe Cornelius (ORU) def. Amina Hadzic (Murray state) 6-1, 6-1

3^rd Flight
Alina Schibol (Murray State) def. Caitlin McCullough (Northeastern State) 6-3, 7-5
Marli Van Heerden (Central Arkansas) def. Alina Schibol (Murray State) 6-4, 6-4

4^th Flight
Mila Majtan (Southeast Missouri) def. Sara Bjork (Murray State) 6-1, 6-0
Shannon O'Brien (Arkansas State) def. Sara Bjork (Murray State score not available

5^th Flight
Ximena Puentes (Oral Roberts def. Jeanne Masson (Murray State) 6-0, 6-1
Ekaterina Donetskova (Missouri State) def. Jeanne Masson (Murray State) score not available

6^th Flight
Hannah Rickard (Murray State) def. Annisa Warasanti (Southeast Missouri) 6-7 (6), 6-2, (10-4)
Sabina Jeseric (Arkansas State) def. Hannah Rickard (Murray State) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles
Chang/Schibol (Murray State) def. Shimoguch/Van Heerden (Central Arkansas) 7-5
Chang/Schibol (Murray State) def. Parker/Worden (Northeastern State) 6-1
Krupa/ Doroshenko (SEMO) def. Chang/Schibol (Murray State) 6-1

King/Jeresic (Arkansas State) def. Bjork/Hadzic (Murray State) 6-4

Majtan/Warasant (Southeast Missouri) def. Masson/Rickard (Murray State) 6-2