HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston tennis team passed another big test to remain undefeated in Southland Conference play with a 5-2 victory over Central Arkansas Friday afternoon at the McAdams Tennis Center.
 
The Bearkats (11-2 overall) improved to 6-0 and currently sit in first place. The Bears (9-10) dropped to 4-2 in SLC action with the loss.
 
Junior Sahaja Yamalapalli continued her unbeaten run this season with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Chunxi Xin at No. 1 singles. She is now 12-0 in dual match play.
 
Freshman Sunskrithi Damera got the ball rolling for Sam Houston in singles action after the Kats took the doubles point 2-1. Damera defeated Paulina Engback 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 6 spot for her first singles win this season.
 
After losses at No. 3 and No. 2 singles, senior Constandena Nicolaou righted the ship with a hard fought 7-6, 7-6 win over Maja Gledic at No. 4 singles to move to 11-0 on the season and to seal the match. Freshman Sahithi Vutukuru continued her impressive debut season with a 7-6, 7-6 win over Sumomo Hamanaga at No. 5 singles to remain undefeated at 9-0.
 
Nicolaou and freshman Andrijana Brkic got doubles kicked off with a 6-0 victory over Yada Vasupongchai and Mei Ishimura in the No. 2 spot. Junior Karla De La Luz Montalvo and sophomore Petra Kaszas secured the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Gledic and Jaeun Lee at No. 3.
 
The Bearkats will host Northwestern State Sunday at 11 a.m. in the final home match of the season.