Bears Head to Sunshine State for Regular Season Finale

CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas tennis team is set to head down to the Sunshine State to wrap up ASUN regular season play. The Bears enter this weekend with an 11-11 overall record with a 3-5 ASUN mark. UCA is currently tied for seventh in the ASUN.

UCA had a tough weekend, dropping matches to both Lipscomb and North Alabama. After beating Lipscomb twice in 2023, the Bisons returned the favor in Conway, thumping the Bears 7-0. Against North Alabama, the Bears got back to their winning ways in doubles play, as Vichitraporn Vimuktananda and Sumomo Hamanaga sealed the deal in a tiebreak, giving UCA the 1-0 lead. With the match tied at 3, Hamanaga could not capitalize in the third set, as North Alabama took the match.

UCA leads off the weekend in DeLand, Florida to take on the Stetson Hatters. While the Hatters come into the weekend at 12-6, Stetson has a spotless 9-0 ASUN mark, and sit atop the ASUN standings. The Hatters have taken down UNA, Lipscomb, Austin Peay, Bellarmine, Kennesaw State, North Florida, EKU, and Queens by a large margin, and they edged out in-state foe Florida Gulf Coast. UCA is 0-2 all-time against Stetson, losing in back-to-back seasons, both in DeLand, so UCA will get a great opportunity to right the ship down in Florida this weekend.

UCA caps off regular season play in Fort Myers on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles come into this weekend at 11-9, which includes a 6-3 ASUN record, good for third in the ASUN. FGCU has key wins over Air Force, Bellarmine, Miami (OH), Belmont, North Florida, and Kennesaw State. The Eagles took a 7-0 decision in 2023 in Fort Myers, and in 2022, FGCU took a 4-3 decision in Conway.

UCA will take on Stetson in DeLand, Florida on Friday, April 12^th at 10:00 a.m. and then on Sunday, April 14^th at 10:00 a.m. the Bears will take on Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers.