Kentucky Rolls Past Missouri on the Road, 4-1
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team defeated Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, in a 4-1 decision on Friday afternoon, earning its first road win of the season. The Wildcats improved to a 10-2 record overall, including a 2-2 mark in the Southeastern Conference and a 1-0 mark on the road.
Kentucky won the doubles point for the 11th time this season, after Akvile Paražinskaite and Fiona Arrese won on the first court in a 6-4 decision and No. 57 Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkchenko won on the third court in a 6-4 decision.
Paražinskaite and Arrese improved to an impressive 9-0 mark this season, earning all of their triumphs on the No. 1 doubles court. It remains the best doubles win streak in the conference.
Tkachenko rallied the first win in the singles competition, defeating Missouri’s Elys Ventura in a 6-1, 7-6 (4) decision. Elizabeth Stevens followed, earning her first conference triumph of the season, moving past Marta Oliveira in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, helping Kentucky go up 3-0 in the dual match,
Paražinskaite fell on the No. 1 singles court for the first time this season, winning the first set 6-3 before falling 6-4, 6-1 in the last two sets. The graduate student is 11-1 on the No. 1 singles court this season.
Moments later, Carlota Molina put together a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 performance over Tiger Valentina Vazquez on the second court. It marked the third straight come-from-behind-win for the sophomore, after she was named SEC Newcomer of the Week last Wednesday for the her victories over Alabama and No. 21 Auburn.
Missouri moved to 13-6 overall record, including a 1-3 mark in the conference.
In its next appearance, Kentucky will meet No. 23 Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Sunday, March 7 at 1 p.m. ET.
Kentucky 4, Missouri 1
March 5, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles competition
1. Bronte Murgett (MIZ) def. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Valentina Vazquez (MIZ) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Ellie Wright (MIZ) vs. Carla Girbau (UK) 4-6, 7-5, 3-1, unfinished
4. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Marta Oliveira (MIZ) 6-3, 6-4
5. Serena Nash (MIZ) vs. Fiona Arrese (UK) 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 2-1, unfinished
6. Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Elys Ventura (MIZ) 6-1, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Bronte Murgett/Marta Oliveira (MIZ) 6-4
2. Gabrielle Goldin/Valentina Vazquez (MIZ) vs. Carla Girbau/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 4-5, unfinished
3. #57 Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Ellie Wright/Serena Nash (MIZ) 6-4
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.
