In a tightly contested match up of intrastate rivals that lasted almost six hours, the No. 13 Kentucky women?s tennis defeated Louisville 4-3 when freshman Jessica Giuggioli (ju-JAH-le) defeated the Cards? Natalia Baez 6-7, 6-4, 6-0, in the last match of the night. Monday?s hard fought contest marked the first home victory for head coach Carlos Drada at the University of Kentucky.
?I?m really proud of our team,? Drada said. “It is through situations like tonight that our team will grow mentally stronger. We competed well against a very intense Louisville team.?
The Cats got down early when they lost the doubles point. Kentucky split the first two doubles matches with the Cards leaving the decisive point to be determined by duos playing in the No.1 spot. The team of Kim Coventry and Lara Maurer lost in the tiebreaker 9-8 against Maria Klokotzky and Robyn White to give Louisville an early 1-0 lead.
Kentucky then dropped its first singles match before rebounding to win the next three straight. The winning streak started with Lara Maurer who continued her unbeaten record in early season match play. The Bay Hill, Ohio, native breezed by Bianca Gorbea in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, to get the Cats on the board.
Juniors Joelle Schwenk and Kim Coventry continued UK?s winning ways by defeating Louisville?s top two players. In the No. 2 spot, Schwenk defeated White 6-3, 6-4, while Coventry outlasted Klokotzky in a match that took over two hours to decide. The 53rd-ranked Coventry dropped the initial set 6-1 before rebounding to take the next two sets 6-3, 6-4.
Louisville came back to tie the match at 3-3 when the Cards? Natalie Laszkowski upended senior Danielle Petrisko. Laszkowski took the first set 6-2 before Petrisko came back and took the second set 6-0. In a tightly contested third and final set, Laszkowksi pulled away late to win 7-5 to take the match.
With the victory riding on the shoulders of the native from Turin, Italy, Giuggioli responded like a veteran. After losing in the first set 6-7, Giuggioli bounced back in convincing fashion winning the final two sets 6-4, 6-0.
?Jessica (Giuggioli) was very poised in a pressure packed situation,? Drada said. ?Her focus and determination served as an example for all of our team members.?
Kentucky will hit the road this weekend traveling to College Park, Md., to take on nationally ranked Maryland and Texas A&M. Fans can check ukathletics.com for complete recaps of both matches.
No. 13 Kentucky vs. Louisville
Doubles
1. Klokotzky/White (UL) def. Coventry/Maurer (UK)- 9-8
2. Schwenk/Escamilla (UK) def.Velazquez/Marshall (UL)- 8-4
3. Laszkowski/Gracanin (UL) def. Petrisko/Winebrenner (UK)- 8-5
Singles
1. Kim Coventry (UK) def. Klokotzky (UL) – 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. White (UL) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Lara Maurer (UK) def. Gorbea (UL) – 6-1, 6-2
4. Gracanin (UL) def. Escamilla (UK) – 6-3, 6-0
5. Laszkowki (UL) def. Danielle Petrisko (UK)- 6-2, 0-6, 7-5
6. Jessica Giuggioli (UK) def. Natalia Baez (UL) – 6-7, 6-4, 6-0
