LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Women’s Tennis team kicked off its 2026 season on Saturday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex with a win against Eastern Kentucky University, defeating the Colonels 6-1. The Cats finished the match by sweeping in doubles play and dominating in singles.

To start off doubles play, freshman Donna Le Roux and senior Ellie Myers defeated EKU’s Cote/Olcer 6-0 on court No. 3, kicking off the Cats domination. On court No. 1, freshman Reese Sager dominates with her serve to win a pivotal game and take the set lead to 5-3. The pair of Sager and sophomore Asuncion Jadue would go on to win the match 6-3 and secure the doubles point for the Cats. Junior Julia Zhu and sophomore Marina Fuduric battled on court No. 2, trading games with EKU’s Bakytzhan and Parkhomenko. The pair went on to secure the match, winning 7-5 and officially taking the doubles sweep.

In singles play, Zhu swiftly secures the first singles win 6-1, 6-0, with strong consistency and ball placement on court No. 2. Senior Zoe Hammond follows quickly behind on court No. 1, showing off on both the serving and returning end, as she sweeps the match 6-0, 6-0. Jadue closed the match 6-2, 6-2 and secured the singles point, officially finalizing the match against the Colonels. Playing the rest of the matches, Sager came up victorious in her first collegiate match 6-2, 5-7,10-5 while Fuduric and Molla both finished out their matches in a race to 8 games.

With the Cats taking their first win of the season, they now gear up for their next match. They will return to the Boone to take on St. Louis and Miami (OH) in a double header on Sunday, January 25th with the first match starting at 10 a.m. ET and the second at 3 p.m. ET.

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Doubles Results:
1. Jadue/Sager def. (UK) Fedenko/Ipek (EKU) 6-3
2. Fuduric/Zhu (UK) def. Bakytzhan/Parkhomenko (EKU) 7-5
3. Le Roux/Myers (UK) def. Cote/Olcer (EKU) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,1,2

Singles Results:
1. Hammond (UK) def. Parkhomenko (EKU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Zhu (UK) def. Fedenko (EKU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Jadue (UK) def. Ipek (EKU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Sager (UK) def. Cote (EKU) 6-2, 5-7, [10-5]
5. Fuduric (UK) def. Olcer (EKU)
6. Molla (UK) def. Bakytzhan (EKU)
Order of finish: 2, 1, 3, 4, 5, 6