May 13, 2001
The 24th-ranked University of Kentucky women’s tennis team fell short in its attempt to upset ninth-ranked Northwestern University on Sunday, May 13, in the second round of the NCAA Championships, losing by a score of 4-1.
UK (14-11) came out with an impressive performance early to take the doubles point, but Northwestern battled back from the early 1-0 deficit to take four singles matches to clinch the match and a trip to the Sweet 16.
Senior Brooke Skeen and junior Lauren Rookledge breezed past Colleen Cheng and Marine Piriou to take the first doubles match 8-1. Junior Carolina Mayorga and sophomore Sarah Witten then notched the match’s opening point for UK with their 8-4 victory over Lia Jackson and Jessica Rush.
Northwestern came out determined in singles action, winning the first set in five of six matches. Witten, Rookledge and sophomore Shannon Stafford all battled back to win the second set and send their matches to three sets, but NU’s Cheng, Rush, Shannon Duffy and Simon Petrutiu all were victorious to clinch the match.
“This has been a great experience for us, and Northwestern and Coach Claire Pollard did a great job hosting this Regional,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “I was happy with our performance. The only downfall of this performance is that it ends our season. I hope that this can some how carry over into next season. I am so proud of this team. They were focused and committed to winning today, but Northwestern is a great team. I have to give a lot of credit to them. I think we are good enough to be in the round of 16, but today Northwestern was the better team.”
This appearance marked the fifth-straight at-large bid for UK in the round of 64.
AGATE: NU 4, UK 1
Singles1. Colleen Cheng (#39), NU def. Carolina Mayorga (#40), UK 6-1, 6-22. Sarah Witten (#83), UK vs. Lia Jackson (#60), NU DNF3. Brooke Skeen (#82), UK vs. Marine Piriou, NU 6-7(4), 6-1, 5-2 (abandoned)4. Shannon Duffy, NU def. Leigh Bradwell, UK 7-5, 6-45. Simona Petrutiu, NU def. Lauren Rookledge, UK 6-1, 3-6, 6-26. Jessica Rush, NU def. Shannon Stafford, UK 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles (one point for two victories)1. Skeen/Rookledge (#20), UK def. Cheng/Piriou, NU 8-12. Mayorga/Witten (#29), UK def. Jackson/Rush, NU 8-43. Barnes/Petrutiu, NU def. Buckley/Trefethen, UK 8-3
