The 25th-ranked University of Kentucky womens tennis team fell short in its attempt to avenge an early seasonloss to fourth-ranked Vanderbilt at the Southeastern Conference Championships on Friday, April 20. The Catsfell to the highly-seeded Commodore 4-3 at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville, Miss.
The Wildcats battled back from a 3-0 deficit to knot the match at three before coming up short of the upset.Juniors Carolina Mayorga and Lauren Rookledge, along with sophomore Sarah Witten, all claimed victories inthe UK loss.
Mayorga continued her winning streak by defeating 16th-ranked, All-American Julie Ditty in straight sets, 6-3,7-6. The win gave Mayorga her third straight singles win over a top 50 opponent. Witten notched animpressive straight sets win with her 7-5, 7-6 triumph over 39th-ranked Sarah Riske. Rookledge also bested anationally ranked player with her 7-6, 6-4 win over No. 97 Aleke Tsoubanos.
UK will now await its bid to the 2001 NCAA Regional Tournament, May 12-13. The NCAA Tennis SelectionShow will air on Thursday, May 3.
VU 4, UK 3Singles1. Carolina Mayorga (#45), UK def. Julie Ditty (#16), VU6-3, 7-62. Sarah Witten, UK def. Sarah Riske (#39), VU 7-5, 7-63. Jenny Miller (#48), VU def. Brooke Skeen, UK 3-6, 6-4, 6-44. Kate Burson, VU def. Leigh Bradwell, UK 7-6, 6-05. Lauren Rookledge, UK def. Aleke Tsoubanos (#97), VU 7-6, 6-46. Kelly Schmandt, VU def. Shannon Stafford, UK 6-3, 6-1Doubles (one point for two victories)1. Ditty/Burson (#5), VU def. Skeen/Rookledge (#19), UK 8-62. Tsoubanos/Riske (#14), VU def. Mayorga/Witten (#29), UK8-33. Buckley/Trefethen, UK def. Rose/Miller, VU DNF
