Wildcats Defeat Texas A&M, 4-1, on Senior Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky seniors Emily Fanning and Mami Adachi came through in a big way on Saturday afternoon inside the Boone Tennis Center, going undefeated in both singles and doubles to help the Kentucky women’s tennis team take down Texas A&M, 4-1, on Senior Day.
“I am so proud of our team,” said Kentucky head coach Carlos Drada. “Our students played our season’s best doubles match in terms of energy and tactical discipline. I am grateful our seniors were strong contributors and we couldn’t ask for a better ending with Emily displaying the competitive standards we pursue during the deciding point.”
“We continue to improve and it is certain that our team’s best tennis is yet to come during this season,” added Drada.
The Wildcats (14-7, 6-5 SEC) were fiery from the start, coming up with a couple quick doubles wins to seal the early lead. Adachi and junior Justina Mikulskyte teamed up at No. 2 doubles to earn a 6-1 victory. On court one, Fanning and freshman Lesedi Jacobs clinched the point with a 6-3 win over No. 52 Eva Paalma/Domenica Gonzalez.
Mikulskyte helped Kentucky kick off singles on a high note, picking up her fourth ranked singles win of the season as she defeated No. 77 Macarena Olivares in straight sets on court two. Kentucky stretched its lead to 3-0 as Adachi turned in a 6-2, 7-5 win against Palma on court three.
The Aggies (15-7, 5-6 SEC) made a push at the end, getting on the board with a win at No. 4 singles as Diana Tkachenko dropped a three-set match to Riley McQuaid, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
After breezing through the first set, 6-2, Fanning struggled against No. 125 Gonzalez early in the second set ultimately falling 7-5 in the set to send the match to a third. The two traded games back and forth until the third was knotted at 4-4. Fanning turned it up a notch, drilling the last two games to clinch Kentucky’s team victory.
The Wildcats will be back in action next weekend, first taking on Florida on Thursday, April 12 at 6 p.m. before closing the regular season at South Carolina on Saturday at noon.
Agate
#28 Kentucky 4, #33 Texas A&M 1
Boone Tennis Center – Lexington, Ky.
April 7, 2018
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2-1)
1 – Emily Fanning/Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. #52 Eva Paalma/Domenica Gonzalez (A&M) 6-3
2 – Justina Mikulskyte/Mami Adachi (UK) def. Tatiana Makarova/Riley McQuaid (A&M) 6-1
3 – Brianna Tulloch/Diana Tkachenko (UK) vs. Dorthea Faa-Hviding/Macarena Olivares (A&M) 3-4, unfinished
Singles (Order of Finish: 2-3-4-1)
1 – Emily Fanning (UK) def. #125 Domenica Gonzalez (A&M) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
2 –#112 Justina Mikulskyte (UK) def. #77 Macarena Olivares (A&M) 6-1, 6-2
3 – Mami Adachi (UK) def. Eva Paalma (A&M) 6-2, 7-5
4 – Riley McQuaid (A&M) def. Diana Tkachenko (UK) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5 –Lesedi Jacobs (UK) vs. Tatiana Makarova (A&M) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished
6 –Brianna Tulloch (UK) vs. Dorthea Faa-Hviding (A&M) 2-6, unfinished
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/UKWomensTennis and on the web at UKathletics.com.
