Myers’ Big Win Clinches 4-1 Victory Over Penn State
LEXINGTON, Ky., – Sophomore Ellie Myers, competing in just the third collegiate dual match of her career, dominated her No. 6 singles match, clinching the dual for her team with a 6-0, 6-0 win. In addition to Myers, the doubles point and singles wins from Zoe Hammond and Lidia Gonzalez helped Kentucky (3-0, 0-0 SEC) defeat Penn State (0-1, 0-0 B1G) by a final score of 4-1.
The Wildcats claimed an early lead in the match, thanks to an all-around comeback effort from the doubles squad. Penn State claimed the upper hand in the opening frame of action, after an upset win over Kentucky’s nationally ranked pairing of Gonzalez and Ellie Eades. Kentucky would fight back to even the score, as No. 36 Makayla Mills and Elizabeth Stevens defeated their Nittany Lion opposition, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles. The opening point would come down to Court 3, where Hammond, teamed up with freshman Julia Zhu, would come back from a break down to win their match and clinch the third doubles point in as many tries for the Cats this season.
The home squad would extend their lead in the opening flight of singles, as Hammond made routine work of her No. 4 singles match, racing to a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Penn State would claim its only point of the day at the top singles spot, as Stevens fell to Sofia Chekhylstova, a 2023 all-Big Ten selection, 6-3, 6-2
The Blue and White would not look back, claiming the final two points of the day to seal the win. Gonzalez would work her comeback magic at No. 3 singles, recovering from an 0-5 deficit in the second set to ultimately win the set and match in a second-set tiebreaker. The match would conclude on Court 6, with Myers claiming victory without dropping a single game. Eades and Zhu both held leads in their singles matches when the dual concluded.
With the win, Kentucky now holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Nittany Lions. The Wildcats also avenged a 4-1 loss to Penn State from last year’s match held in University Park.
Kentucky will return to action on Friday, January 26, as they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for ITA Kickoff Weekend, their first appearance in the event since 2020. In semifinal action, the Wildcats, the three seed in the North Carolina Regional, will take on Charlotte, the regional two seed, at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center at a time to be determined. Host North Carolina, the number one team in the nation, will take on Oregon in the other semifinal, with championship and consolation matches scheduled for Saturday, January 27.
RESULTS
Kentucky vs. Penn State
Doubles
Dorner/Frieldland (PSU) def. No. 25 Eades/Gonzalez (UK) 6-1
No. 36 Mills/Stevens (UK) def. Alamo/Lebedeva (PSU) 6-4
Hammond/Zhu (UK) def. Chekhylstova/Lasorda (PSU) 6-4
Singles
Chekhylstova (PSU) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-3, 6-2
Ellie Eades (UK) vs. Dorner (PSU) 6-7 (5), 6-3, 4-1 (unfinished)
Lidia Gonzalez (UK) def. Friedland (PSU) 6-2, 7-6 (2)
Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Lebedeva (PSU) 6-3, 6-1
Julia Zhu (UK) vs. Alamo (PSU) 6-5 (unfinished)
Ellie Myers (UK) def. Zink (PSU) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish:
Doubles—1, 2, 3
Singles—4, 1, 3, 6
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