Wildcats Remain Perfect at Home, Down No. 33 Bulldogs 6-1

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 20 Kentucky women’s tennis continued its win streak on Sunday afternoon, conquering No. 33 Mississippi State 6-1 for its third straight victory over a ranked opponent. The Wildcats are now 11-2 in dual matches this season, including a 3-1 mark in league play and a perfect 6-0 record inside the Boone Tennis Center. The Bulldogs are 8-4 (1-3 SEC).

“I think it was a great match today,” said assistant coach Federico Sabogal. “It was a really tough one, especially because they’re really good in doubles in my opinion. I think our girls came hungry and prepared with a lot of energy.”

Kentucky got going early in doubles as Justina Mikulskyte and Emily Fanning swiftly picked up a 6-2 victory on court three, before Akvile Paražinskaite and Morgan Chumney teamed up to clinch the doubles point with a 6-3 triumph in No. 2 doubles. UK’s fifth-ranked duo of Mami Adachi and Aldila Sutjiadi were knotted at 4-4 versus No. 13 Jasmine Lee/Lisa Marie Rioux as the point was decided.

“At the beginning, we were able to get those two wins in doubles pretty quick and then we kind of transferred that energy and that momentum to singles, said Sabogal. “We faced a little adversity on a few courts in singles, but the girls were competing hard, being mentally tough, resilient and I think that really showed off.”

Mississippi State evened the score at 1-1 early in singles as No. 57 Lee upset 16th-ranked Sutjiadi in straight sets, but Kentucky would fire back with three straight wins to seal the match. Fanning first put the Cats up 2-1 as she strolled to a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Anastasia Rentouli before Adachi turned in a 7-5, 6-4 triumph on court three.

Paražinskaite gave Kentucky the win with her gritty performance in No. 2 singles. After winning the first set tiebreak, 7-6 (6), the sophomore held onto that focus to win the second set 6-3. The remainder of the matches were abandoned, but Kentucky led in both.

Kentucky will return to action next Saturday, March 18 at the Boone Tennis Center next Saturday, March 18 to face a tough opponent in No. 5 Vanderbilt. 

Agate

#20 Kentucky 6, #33 Mississippi State 1

Boone Tennis Complex

March 12, 2017

Doubles (Order of Finish: 3-2)

1 – No. 5 Adachi/Sutjiadi (UK) vs. No. 13 Lee/Rioux (MSU), 4-4, unfinished

2 – Chumney/Paražinskaite (UK) def. Harrison/ Vozniak (MSU), 6-3

3 – Fanning/Mikulskyte (UK) def. Lizariturry/Rentouli (MSU), 6-2

Singles (Order of Finish: 1-4-3-2)

1 – No. 57 Jasmine Lee (MSU) def. No. 16 Aldila Sutjiadi (UK), 6-2, 6-2

2 – Akvile Paražinskaite (UK) def. Madison Harrison (MSU), 7-6 (6), 6-3

3 – Mami Adachi (UK) def. Lisa Marie Rioux (MSU), 7-5, 6-4

4 – Emily Fanning (UK) def. Anastasia Rentouli (MSU), 6-1, 6-4

5 – Justina Mikulskyte (UK) def. Khrystyna Vozniak (MSU), 6-2, abandoned

6 – Morgan Chumney (UK) def. Sara Lizariturry (MSU), 3-0, abandoned