JONESBORO, Ark. (4/4/12) – The Arkansas State tennis team picked up its first Sun Belt Conference win of the season with a 5-2 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock at Allen Park on Wednesday.

The Red Wolves overcame a slow start in doubles competition and bounced back to win five of the six singles matches to earn the victory over the Lady Trojans. All of A-State’s wins were straight set victories as the Red Wolves improved their record to 9-5 on the year and 1-3 in Sun Belt Conference play.

“It was a good victory for us,” ASU head coach Marina Engelbrecht said. “We struggled in doubles play, but bounced back with a strong showing in singles competition to earn a good conference victory. We hope to continue this momentum as we go to Troy and South Alabama this weekend.”

Freshman Tamara Slijepcevic won her fourth straight match with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Viktoriya Plyuta in the No. 2 singles match. Slijepcevic is now 12-2 on the year and 8-2 in her last 10 matches.

In the No. 1 singles match Mariana Rong defeated Veronique Luksich 6-2, 6-1, while Biljana Miloshevska defeated Michaela McShane 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 4 match. In the No. 5 singles match Ioana Teu defeated Nina Yates 7-6, 6-3, while Ceara Howey picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win in the No. 6 singles match.

In doubles competition UALR earned the point by winning all three matches. Plyuta and Kakovkina defeated Rong and Teu 8-1, while McShane and Luksich defeated Nowland and Howey 9-8 in the No. 2 match. In the No. 3 match Yates and Kolegova defeated Jess Heeps-Eriksen and Miloshevska 9-8.

ASU will return to the courts Friday, April 6, for a match at Troy followed by a match Saturday April 7, at South Alabama. First serve for both matches is set for 1 p.m.