LEXINGTON, Ky. – On Thursday night the Kentucky women’s tennis (8-7, 0-6 SEC) squad fell 4-0 to a tough Florida Gators team, who currently ranks as the No. 23 team in the country. Wildcats saw changed lineups, moving junior Julia Zhu to court two, where  Zhu took an early singles lead against the Gator’s No. 76 Valery Gynina despite the loss.

In doubles, the Wildcats found themselves behind early on courts one and three. On three, the freshmen pair of Donna Le Roux and Elena Molla fell to the Gators duo of Lucie Pawlak and India Houghton 6-2. In a set with close games overall, Wildcats Zoe Hammond and Zhu were fighting Xinyi Nong and Niki Daubnerova of Florida, but ultimately fell 6-3. Although curt two was left unfinished due to a Gators point clinch, freshman Reese Sager and sophomore Asuncion Jadue led Brooke Black and Valery Gynina 6-5.

Moving onto singles, the Gators tough serves and strong lineup top-to-bottom left the Wildcats trailing before they could attempt the comeback. On court six, freshman Le Roux fell to No. 72 Niki Daubnerova 6-0, 6-2 in her first collegiate matchup against a ranked opponent. On court five, the Gators extended their lead to 3-0 when Jadue was defeated by No. 88 Lucie Pawlak by a score of 6-1, 6-3.

Now trailing the match 3-0, Kentucky attempted a strong comeback. Hammond came back after dropping the first set 6-1 to take the second 6-2 and force a third. Molla also was in a tight second set at 5-5 after dropping the first set on court four. Zhu led the charge, taking the first set on court two against Florida’s No. 76 Valery Gynina. Although Zhu had the lead in the second 5-3, it was left unfinished as the match was completed from a Gators clinch on court three, No. 26 Paskauskas defeating freshman Sager 6-3, 6-4.

The Wildcats now move onto the second leg of the weekend trip, where they will travel to No. 3 Auburn on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

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Doubles Results:

  1. Xinyi Nong/Niki Daubnerova (UF) def. Zoe Hammond/Julia Zhu (UK) 6-3
  2. Asuncion Jadue/Reese Sager (UK) vs. Brooke Black/Valery Gynina (UF) 6-5, unfinished
  3. Lucie Pawlak/India Houghton (UF) def. Donna Le Roux/Elena Molla (UK) 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 1

Singles Results:

  1. No. 116 Zoe Hammond (UK) vs. No. 103 India Houghton (UF) 1-6, 6-2, unfinished
  2. No. 112 Julia Zhu (UK) vs. No. 76 Valery Gynina (UF) 6-3, 5-3, unfinished
  3. No. 26 Gabia Paskauskas (UF) def. Reese Sager (UK) 6-3, 6-4
  4. Elena Molla (UK) vs. Brooke Black (UF) 0-6, 5-5
  5. No. 88 Lucie Pawlak (UF) def. Asuncion Jadue (UK) 6-1, 6-3
  6. No. 72 Niki Daubnerova (UF) def. Donna Le Roux (UK) 6-0, 6-2

Order of finish: 6, 5, 3