Kentucky Falls Short at No. 6 Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite claiming the doubles point for the fourth straight match, Kentucky (14-10, 4-7 SEC) fell short at No. 6 Mississippi State (18-3, 9-2 SEC) on Sunday, 4-1.

The Wildcats started the match by dominating doubles, cruising to early leads on all three courts that would not be relinquished. Martin Breysach and Jaden Weekes earned the first win for Kentucky on court three, defeating Niccolo Baroni and Bryan Hernandez Cortes, 6-3. Since teaming up earlier this week, the senior duo is now 3-0 as a pair.

No. 24 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson delivered the clinch for the Cats, earning at 6-3 victory over Mario Martinez Sanchez and Michal Novansky on the top court. No. 48 Nicolas Arseneault and Matt Rankin were on the verge of a win on court two, leading 5-3 when play concluded.

Needing just three more points against the Southeastern Conference-leading Bulldogs, the Wildcats found early success with three first set wins. Mississippi State would take a 2-1 lead with wins on courts three and one, respectively. No. 62 Martinez Sanchez defeated Weekes, 6-4, 6-2, and No. 35 Benito Sanchez Martines defeated No. 22 Stephenson, 6-4, 6-2.

However, the final four courts all seemed to be trending towards the Wildcats. At one point, No. 55 Loutit and No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault had the first sets in hand, with Loutit leading 4-1 in the second, Mikael Arseneault held a match point on court five, and Rankin had just forced a decider on court six.

Yet, the Wildcats could never get a singles point on the board and the home squad was able to complete the comeback. Mikael Arseneault saw a 5-2, 40-40, match point up lead slip away on court five, dropping the final five games of the match against No. 97 Hernandez Cortes to drop a 6-2, 4-6, 5-7 decision.

No. 55 Loutit lost the final five games of the second set to see his match on court four end up in a third frame and No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault dropped a second set tiebreaker to also be forced into a decider.

The Bulldogs would clinch the dual on court six, as Roberto Ferrer Guimares defeated Rankin, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. One break on a deciding point midway through the final set would end up being the difference in the match.

Kentucky will return to Lexington for its final regular season home match, hosting No. 11 Georgia at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 4. The Cats will celebrate Senior Day during the match and honor Martin Breysach, Charlelie Cosnet, and Jaden Weekes.

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Kentucky vs. No. 6 Mississippi State

Doubles Results

1. No. 24 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) def. Martinez Sanchez/Novansky (MSU) 6-3
2. No. 48 N. Arseneault/Rankin (UK) vs. Ferrer Guimares/Sanchez Martinez (MSU) 5-3 (unfinished)
3. Breysach/Weekes (UK) def. Baroni/Hernandez Cortes (MSU) 6-3

Order of finish: 3, 1

Singles Results

1. No. 35 Benito Sanchez Martinez (MSU) def. No. 22 Eli Stephenson (UK) 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) vs. No. 68 Niccolo Baroni (MSU) 7-5, 6-7 (1), 0-0 (unfinished)
3. No. 62 Mario Martinez Sanchez (MSU) def. Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-4, 6-2
4. No. 55 Jack Loutit vs. No. 123 Raphael Vaksmann (MSU) 7-6 (4), 4-6, 1-2 (unfinished)
5. No. 97 Bryan Hernandez Cotres (MSU) def. Mikael Arseneault (UK) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5
6. Roberto Ferrer Guimares (MSU) def. Matt Rankin (UK) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4

Order of finish: 3, 1, 5, 6