LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s tennis team (9-10, 1-9 SEC) fought a competitive match against No. 11 Vanderbilt (17-5, 7-3 SEC) in conference play, ultimately falling 4-3. The match featured a notable performance from freshman Reese Sager, who defeated No. 93 Mia Yamakia.

Starting doubles, Ellie Myers and Zoe Hammond dropped a close match to Vanderbilt’s Pearce and Webster, 6-2. Then, eyes turned towards courts one and three for the decisive point.

On court one, Sager and Asuncion Jadue dropped a close match to Vanderbilt’s No. 25 Stammel and Ray, 6-4, putting Vanderbilt ahead 1-0. On court three doubles, Donna Le Roux and Julia Zhu’s match went unfinished as they led the Commanders’ Yamakita and Vijayakumar 5-4.

Moving to singles trailing 1-0, the Wildcats sparked momentum by earning two singles points rather quickly. Reese Sager won 6-3, 6-3 on court three against Vanderbilt’s No. 93 Mia Yamakia, followed by Asuncion Jadue’s 6-3, 6-3 victory over Valeria Ray on court five.

However, momentum shifted as Vanderbilt’s Erin Pearce defeated Elena Molla 6-2, 6-2 on court four, and Valeria Ray claimed a 6-4, 6-2 win over Julia Zhu on court two, with Vanderbilt leading 3-2.

Vanderbilt secured the match with a victory on court one. No. 23 Bridget Stammel took the first set against Zoe Hammond 6-0, but Hammond responded by winning the second set 6-4, forcing a decisive third set battle, which Stammel won 7-5 to clinch the match for the Commodores at 4-2.

The match was played out on court six, where Donna Le Roux defeated Sophia Webster 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 with a final score of 4-3.

The Wildcats will head on the road for a match against Georgia at 1 p.m. ET at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex later in the week before playing South Carolina next Saturday, April 4.

For the latest on UK Women’s Tennis, follow @UKWomensTennis on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

 

Doubles Results:

  1. No. 25 Ray/Stammel (VU) def. Jadue Asuncion/Reese Sager (UK) 6-2
  2.  Pearce/Webster (VU) def. Marina Fuduric/Zoe Hammond (UK) 6-4
  3. Donna Le Roux/Julia Zhu (UK) vs. Yamakita/Webster (VU) 5-4 unfinished

Order of finish: 2,1,3

Singles Results:

  1. No. 33 Bridget Stammel (VU) def. Zoe Hammond (UK) 6-0,6-4, 7-5
  2. No. 25 Valeria Ray (VU) def. Julia Zhu (UK) 6-4, 6-2
  3. Reese Sager (UK) def. No. 93 Mia Yamaki (VU) 6-3, 6-3
  4. Erin Pearce (VU) def. Elena Molla (UK) 6-2, 6-0
  5. Asuncion Jadue (UK) def. Trinetra Vijayakumar (VU) 6-3, 6-2
  6. Donna Le Roux (UK) vs. Sophia Webster (VU) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 4,3,5,2,1,6