TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith tennis squads opened their fall seasons with the Rumble by the River hosted by Northeastern State earlier this month. Competition consisted of three rounds of both singles and doubles.

The women competed September 5-6, playing a pair of three-set matches in round one before Gracie Pereff broke through for the Lions' first singles win in round two with a 7-5, 6-4 decision.

Arianna De Bernardo claimed a 7-5, 6-3 win in round three to cap singles play.

In doubles, both pairs won their opening matches, with De Bernardo and Antonietta Bocache taking a 6-2 win and Pereff and Sofia Tominaga earning a 7-5 victory. After a pair of defeats in round two, Pereff and Tominaga wrapped up the weekend with a 6-1 win in round three.

The Lion men were shut out in the first round but picked up three wins in round two. Eduardo Bribiesca and Simeon Latinchev each earned 6-4, 6-4 wins while Nathan Rigault won 6-3, 6-1.

Round three saw Bribiesca win in dominating fashion, 6-1, 6-0, with Latinchev winning 6-2, 6-1 and Rigault taking a 6-4, 4-6, 10-7 win.

Rodrigo Hoppe teamed with Connor Shellem from Southeastern Oklahoma State to earn 6-3 doubles win in the first round and then again in round two for a 6-1 win.

Bribiesca and Birk Arwedahl won 6-3 in round two while Rigault and Latinchev scored a 6-1 win. Rigault and Latinchev followed that up with a 6-2 win in round three before Arwedahl and Bribiesca capped the weekend with a 6-3 win in round four.

Next up for the women is the ITA Central Regional September 19-21 in Edmond, Oklahoma, while the men's ITA Central Regional is slated for Sept. 26-28 in Topeka, Kansas.