Kentucky Women’s Tennis Remains Perfect at Home, Defeats Alabama on Friday Night
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team extended its home winning streak to six on Friday night, defeating Alabama in a 4-2 decision inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Wildcats advance to a 9-5 record, including a 2-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference.
For the first time this season, Kentucky lost the doubles point but won the dual match. Before tonight, UK owned 0-5 record in dual matches that it lost the doubles point.
UK’s Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkachenko took care of business on the second court, swiftly defeating Sasha Gorchanyuk and Alba Cortina Pou, 6-2. However, Kentucky would lose the next two courts, giving Alabama a 1-0 lead ahead of the singles competition. The 49th-best doubles team in the nation, UA’s Moka Ito and Isabella Harvinson, ousted Carla Girbau and Akvile Paražinskaite, 6-4. Then, Ann Selim and Luca Fabian defeated Carlota Molina and Maialen Morante, 6-4.
The Wildcats proved losing the doubles point wouldn’t be a problem, as Kentucky rallied three straight wins in the singles competition. Molina earned the first singles win, carding a 6-2, 6-3 decision on the fourth court. Redshirt senior Paražinskaite recorded the second win, ousting Isabella Harvison on the second court, 6-2, 6-3.
Jacobs followed, earning a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over Moka Ito on the first court. It was Jacobs’ first time competing on the first court this season.
Alabama took a turn in earning a singles win, as Alba Cortina Pou defeated Carla Girbau on the third court, 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-2.
Nevertheless, Diana Tkachenko clinched the dual match for the Wildcats, as the senior ousted Ann Selim in a 6-2, 6-4 decision.
Next on the Schedule
The Kentucky women’s tennis team will play host to Auburn on Sunday, March 8 at noon, inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Admission is free, and fans are encouraged to attend.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
