FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Northeastern State women’s tennis team defeated the University of Arkansas Fort Smith 8-1 Tuesday afternoon at Fort Smith Athletic Club.

The RiverHawks (13-1) won their 12th-straigth match and dropped UAFS to 7-9 on the season. Also streaking is junior Martina Bruzikova, who earned her 12th-straight singles triumph.

The visitors went ahead 1-0 after senior Ivana Belejova teamed with freshman Kristina Savchenkov to post an 8-4 win over Madison Carr and Masa Podunavac on the top doubles court.

Bruzikova and sophomore Barbora Jirickova defeated Abby Thompson and Allie Wilson 8-5 at the third flight. The RiverHawks conceded the lone point of the match on the second doubles court when Whitney Hobson and Amy Belanger defeated the junior duo of Jeanne Mallem and Houda Bellamine 8-6.

Two singles matches went to three sets, but NSU was able to sweep all six singles courts.

Bruzikova cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Carr at the fifth flight, and Bellamine defeated Belanger 6-1, 6-1 on the third court.

Jirickova dropped Hobson 7-5, 6-1 at the sixth position and Belejova got past Podunavac 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 from the top of the order.

Mallem dropped the first set to Thompson on the fourth court, but she never lost another game in the 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 victory. Savchenkov took care of Taylor Price 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 from the second spot in the order.

Northeastern State will now travel to Jefferson City, Mo., on March 22 for a 3 p.m. meeting with Lincoln University.



Bartel shoots 66, NSU finishes 7th

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — The Northeastern State men’s golf team finished in a tie for seventh following Tuesday’s final round of the 2013 Bash at the Beach, which was held at the par-71 Surf Golf and Beach Club.

The 11-team tournament field included nine NCAA Division I men’s golf programs and two NCAA Division II schools (NSU and Saint Leo).

Senior Jacob Bartel fired a career-best 66 in the final round to finish at 4-over-par 217 (74-77-66) and tie for 23rd. Fellow senior Kyle Fouts carded a 70 in the final round to shoot 1-under for the tournament and tie for seventh (68-74-70, 212).

Freshman Jackson Hess stood alone in 38th at 12-over 225 (74-74-77), junior Jonas Granel tied for 43rd at 14-over 227 (73-78-75) and junior Zach Tucker tied for 46th at 15 over 228 (79-74-75).

Rich Leeper of James Madison took home top individual honors after finishing at 9-under 204 (67-72-65). Teammate Trey Smith finished second at 8-under 205 (69-70-66).

Radford won the team portion of the tournament with a 7-under total of 845 (281-274-290). Jacksonville finished second at 850 (284-281-285) and James Madison was third at 858

NSU (289-299-287) finished in a tie for seventh with Appalachian State (294-290-291) at 23-over 875. NSU’s final-round total of 287 was the lowest the team has shot since October 2011.

The RiverHawks will next be in action at the UCO Classic in Oklahoma City March 31-April 2.