EL PASO -- Number one doubles team Irina Sotnikova and Peta Taylor and number three pairing Patty Manzur and Lilit Martierosyan both won to give Sam Houston State the doubles point and Sotnikova earned a victory at number one singles as Sam Houston State fell 5-2 to Arkansas State in the Bearkats' opening dual match of the 2008 season.

The match was played at the University of Texas-El Paso Tennis Center Friday.

Sotnikova defeated Maria Oprea 6-3 6-1 in the number one singles. Sotnikova and Taylor won 8-4 at number one doubles while Manzur and Martierosyan won in a tie-breaker at number three doubles.

"We showed some bright spots throughout the match, but we have a lot of rust to scrape off before we can successfully compete against teams of Arkansas State's caliber," SHSU Head Coach Jim Giachino said. "I expect us to compete better in our next match. Overall, we did well in the doubles, but we will have to bring a much higher level to the singles."

Tennis Match Results
Sam Houston State vs Arkansas St
1/25/2008 at El Paso, TX

Arkansas St 5, Sam Houston State 2
Singles competition:
1. Irina Sotnikova (SHSU) def. Maria Oprea (ARKST) 6-3, 6-1
2. Paula Chelminska (ARKST) def. Nora Kuruc (SHSU) 6-1, 6-1
3. Rone Van Wyk (ARKST) def. Peta Taylor (SHSU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Lili Laing (ARKST) def. Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Renee Brinker (ARKST) def. Patricia Manzur (SHSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Laydi Zora (ARKST) def. Lilit Martierosyan (SHSU) 2-2, retired

Doubles competition:
1. Irina Sotnikova/Peta Taylor (SHSU) def. Renee Brinker/Rone Van Wyk (ARKST) 8-4
2. Paula Chelminska/Maria Oprea (ARKST) def. Nora Kuruc/Stasa Vujosevic (SHSU) 8-2
3. Patricia Manzur/Lilit Martierosyan (SHSU) def. Menna Kamal/Laydi Zora (ARKST) 9-8

Match Notes:
Sam Houston State 0-1
Arkansas St 1-0