March 7, 2003
The 13th-ranked Kentucky women’s tennis team (12-5, 2-1 SEC) needed a three-set win from senior Amy Trefethen to defeat the No. 37 Ole Miss Lady Rebels (3-8, 0-3 SEC), 4-3, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats took the doubles point when senior Sarah Witten and Trefethen got by the Rebels’ Mira Radu and Virginia Tomatis, 8-4, at No. 1. At the three spot, Nathalie Roels and Shannon Stafford had already breezed by Karem Harboe and Florencia Basile, 8-0.
In singles, Roels struggled on court number two. The freshman, ranked No. 83, was only able to win one game in her 6-0, 6-1 loss to Karem Harboe. Soon after, though, Jill Buckley completed her 6-2, 6-1 win over Florencia Basile to put Kentucky back up 2-1.
Freshman Shannon Stough had some difficulties in the first set against Audra Adams on court six as she lost the first set 6-1. But whatever problems she had, she corrected them as she stormed back to take the second set by the same score. The two went back and forth in the third until Adams pulled away for the 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 victory.
On court four, senior Shannon Stafford took the first set of her match with Ole Miss’ Virginia Tomatis, 6-3. The second set reached a tiebreaker and Stafford prevailed, 6-3, 7-6(5).
Ole Miss knotted the score at three following a grueling three-setter at number one by No. 76 Witten and the Rebels’ Mira Radu, ranked 24th. After falling 6-4 in the first set, Witten bounced back to take the second 6-2. With Radu up 5-4 in the third, Witten was unable to capitalize on three break points to tie the score. Radu closed it out, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
With the score at 3-3, it was up to Trefethen on court five. After trading sets with Sabrina Peppl, Trefethen got up 4-0 in the third and went on to win, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.
“We were very fortunate to come away with the victory against a very good Ole Miss team,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “We had some players step up and we were able to get the win.”
The Cats will have a day off before facing Mississippi State on Sunday, March 9 at the Boone Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET.
AGATE:
#13 Kentucky 4, #37 Ole Miss 3
Doubles
1. #23 Sarah Witten/Amy Trefethen (UK) def. #34 Mira Radu/Virginia Tomatis (UM) – 8-4
2. Sabrina Peppl/Audra Adams (UM) def. Jill Buckley/Leigh Bradwell (UK) – 8-5
3. Shannon Stafford/Nathalie Roels (UK) def. Karem Harboe/Florencia Basile (UM) – 8-0
Singles
1. #24 Mira Radu (UM) def. #76 Sarah Witten (UK) – 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
2. Karem Harboe (UM) def. #83 Nathalie Roels (UK) – 6-0, 6-1
3. Jill Buckley (UK) def. Florencia Basile (UM) – 6-2, 6-1
4. Shannon Stafford (UK) def. Virginia Tomatis (UM) – 6-3, 7-6(5)
5. Amy Trefethen (UK) def. Sabrina Peppl (UM) – 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
6. Audra Adams (UM) def. Shannon Stough (UK) – 6-1, 1-6, 7-5
