JONESBORO, Ark. (4/15/12) – The Arkansas State tennis team concluded its 2012 regular season with a 4-2 victory over Southern Mississippi on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon at Allen Park.

Freshman Tamara Slijepcevic won her ninth straight match of the year with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Alexus Coats in the No. 1 singles match. This was the second straight match that Slijepcevic had played in the No. 1 singles match. She has a 17-2 record on the season and is 9-1 in her last 10 matches.

“This was a great win for us,” ASU head coach Marina Engelbrecht said. “Today we proved the team with the most heart and desire will win. Ceara had a great senior day after fighting back to win in three sets. I was really proud of our team today.”

Senior Ceara Howey, who played in her last home match, defeated Mackenzie Oskin 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, while Biljana Miloshveska picked up a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Kate Lanier in the No. 3 match. Jess Heeps-Eriksen defeated Moorea Williams 6-1, 7-5 in the No. 5 match.

In other singles action sophomore Janie Nowland lost to Eljan Van Berlo 7-5, 7-5, while Janelle Fung lost to Alex Bradley 6-0, 6-1.

The Red Wolves finished the season with an 11-8 record and will compete in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Denton, Texas. The tournament will begin on Thursday, April 19 and run through Sunday, April 22.

Tennis Match Results

Southern Mississippi vs Arkansas State

Apr 15, 2012 at Jonesboro, Ark.

Arkansas State 4, Southern Mississippi 2

 Singles competition

1. Slijepcevic, Tamara (ASU) def. Coats, Alexus (USM) 6-2, 6-4

2. Berlo, Eljan Van (USM) def. Nowland, Janie (ASU) 7-5, 7-5

3. Miloshevska, Biljana (ASU) def. Lanier, Kate (USM) 7-5, 6-4

4. Howey, Ceara (ASU) def. Oskin, Mackenzie (USM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0

5. Heeps-Eriksen, Jess (ASU) def. Williams, Moorea (USM) 6-1, 7-5

6. Bradley, Alex (USM) def. Fung, Janelle (ASU) 6-0, 6-1

 Doubles competition

Match Notes:

Arkansas State 11-8