Feb. 18, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team ended its nine-game homestretch on a high note, taking both matches to improve to 8-1 on the season. The team took on Eastern Kentucky at 10 a.m. ET and Evansville at 6 p.m. ET for the doubleheader at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Complex.
The Wildcats started off the day against Eastern Kentucky with a dominating doubles performance. At the No. 2 position, sophomore Caitlin McGraw and freshman Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff grabbed a win in an impressive 22 minutes. The duo faced Amandine Faouzi and Melissa Gerritsen, defeating them, 8-0.
The 36th-ranked doubles pair of Khristina Blajkevitch and Jessica Stiles finally reunited after Blajkevitch suffered a wrist injury, and the two didn’t miss a beat. They took on Kristina Labeja and Melina Poffo, ultimately winning, 8-1. Sophomores Marni Venter and Cece Witten followed suit as they won, 8-5, allowing the Cats to take the doubles point.
In singles play, freshmen Stephanie Fox and Morin-Kougoucheff played well beyond their years. The two played with poise, sweeping both of their opponents in straight sets as they posted, 6-0, 6-0, results. Such performances have made the two freshmen an integral part of the young Wildcats team.
Perhaps the most remarkable performance of the match came from junior Jessica Stiles. She found herself about to lose in singles play as Faouzi took the first set and was leading, 5-3, in the second, but she mounted an impressive comeback. She powered through the next four games to take the second set and then dominated from there. She won the third set, 6-1, to ultimately take the victory with a final score, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
Sophomore Cece Witten played a close match with Melina Poffo, requiring a tiebreaker and almost even a third set. With her final result of 7-6, 7-5, she finished out the match for the Cats, as they took the victory over the Colonels, 5-2.
Just a few hours later on Saturday evening, UK took on the Purple Aces of Evansville. The Wildcats once again proved their worth in doubles as they gained all three wins. Stiles and Blajkevitch faced strong opponents in Dora Kotsiou and Natasha James, as the duo battled for every point. Ultimately, the Wildcats pulled through, taking the, 8-6, victory.
Morin-Kougoucheff and McGraw provided another commanding performance, defeating Emily Richardson and Kelsey Costales, 8-1. Witten and Venter once again came through with a solid win as they posted a, 8-2, result over Aleksandra Dsakula and Jess Raatz.
The Cats ended the day enthusiastically, grabbing every singles point to obtain the 7-0 decision. Fox set her usual lightening pace, finishing first against Richardson with a, 6-1, 6-0, result.
Next, the Wildcats will travel for the first time in the regular season. The team will face Akron in Akron, Ohio at 1:00 p.m. ET on Feb. 21.
For continuing coverage of UK women’s tennis log on to UKathletics.com.
AGATE
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex
Lexington, Ky. February 18, 2012
Kentucky 5, Eastern Kentucky 2
Doubles:
1) Stiles/Blajkevitch (UK) def. Labeja/Poffo (EKU) 8-1
2) Morin/McGraw (UK) def. Faouzi/Gerritsen (EKU) 8-0
3) Venter/Witten (UK) def. Jimenez/Oscoz (EKU) 8-5
Singles:
1) Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Amandine Faouzi (EKU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
2) Kristina Labeja (EKU) def. Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
3) Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) def. Melissa Gerritsen (EKU) 6-0, 6-0
4) Stephanie Fox (UK) def. Marcela Jimenez (EKU) 6-0, 6-0
5) Cece Witten (UK) def. Melina Poffo (EKU) 7-6, 7-5
6) Carmen Rodriguez (EKU) def. Misha Testerman 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 2, 1*, 3
Singles: 3, 4, 2, 1*, 6
AGATE
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex
Lexington, Ky. February 18, 2012
Kentucky 7, Evansville 0
Doubles:
1) Stiles/Blajkevitch (UK) def. Kotsiou/James (UE) 8-6
2) Morin-Kougoucheff/McGraw (UK) def. Richardson/Costales (UE) 8-1
3) Venter/Witten (UK) def. Dsakula/Raatz (UE) 8-2
Singles:
1) Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Dora Kotsiou (UE) 6-1, 6-4
2) Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) def. Aleksandra Dsakula (UE) 6-4, 7-6
3) Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) def. Natasha James (UE) 6-3, 6-2
4) Stephanie Fox (UK) def. Emily Richardson (UE) 6-1, 6-0
5) Cece Witten (UK) def. Mina Milovic (UE) 6-3, 6-3
6) Misha Testerman (UK) def. Jess Raatz (UE) 6-1, 6-1
Order of Finish:
Singles: 4, 3, 1*, 2, 5
Doubles: 2, 3*, 1
