COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kentucky women’s tennis (9-13, 1-12 SEC) fell just short to No. 33 South Carolina, 4-3, fighting from beginning to end in the last road SEC match of the regular season.

Starting things off with doubles, it was a battle from the jump. On court two, freshman Donna Le Roux and junior Julia Zhu fell to the Gamecock duo of Kaitlyn Carnicella and Jana Stojanova 6-1.

The Wildcats soared on courts one and three doubles, claiming the doubles point ultimately. Seniors Ellie Myers and Zoe Hammond combined for a 6-4 win on court three against USC’s Jane Dunyon and Sara Borkop, while freshman Reese Sager and Asuncion Jadue highlighted doubles play with a huge victory. Sager and Jadue defeated a ranked opponent in No. 12 Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman by a score of 6-4, claiming the point for the Cats.

Leading the Gamecocks 1-0, Kentucky continued to push South Carolina to the limit.

On court one, Hammond fell to Carnicella 6-4, 6-2, tying things up at 1-1.

Freshman Elena Molla had a great day against USC’s Taylor Goetz, beating her in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Jadue followed minutes later, dropping a match to Stojanova 7-5, 6-3.

With the match at 2-2, it was another freshman in Le Roux that picked up the win and gave the Wildcats a lead one again. Le Roux defeated Jane Dunyon after trailing, winning by a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

All eyes turned to courts two and three, where Zhu and Sager battled into the third set. Zhu fell short of Helena Buchwald and Sager to Sara Borkop, clinching the four-hour match for the Gamecocks, 4-3.

The Wildcats will return to the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex next Thursday and wrap up the season celebrating the seniors on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

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

Doubles Results:
1. Asuncion Jadue/Reese Sager (UK) 6-2 def. No. 12 Helena Buchwald/Lauren Friedman (USC) 6-4
2. Kaitlyn Carnicella/Jana Stojanova (USC) def. Donna Le Roux/Julia Zhu (UK) 6-2
3. Ellie Myers/Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Jane Dunyon/Sara Borkop (USC) 6-4
Order of finish: 2,3,1

Singles Results:
1. No. 57 Kaitlyn Carnicella (USC) def. Zoe Hammond (UK) 6-4, 6-2
2. No. 50 Helena Buchwald (USC) def. Julia Zhu (UK) 6-7(0), 6-3, 6-1
3. Sara Borkop (USC) vs. Reese Sager (UK) 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 6-3
4. Elena Molla (UK) def. Taylor Goetz (USC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jana Stojanova (USC) vs. Asuncion Jadue (UK) 7-5, 6-3
6. Donna Le Roux (UK) def. Jane Dunyon (USC) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Order of finish: 1,4,5,6,2,3