The 21st-ranked University of Kentucky women?s tennis team scored a 5-2 victory over Mississippi State in Friday?s conference opener in Starkville, Miss. The Cats improve to 9-5 and 1-0 in the SEC.

Freshmen Christine Simpson and Liis Sober teamed up at No. 3 for an 8-5 victory over MSU?s Hayley and Tarryn Rudman. Junior Aibika Kalsarieva and freshman Lara Maurer clinched the doubles point with an 8-6 win at No. 2 over Marcelle Hirt and Justyna Switala.

Kentucky cruised through singles play to ensure the victory. Kalsarieva blanked Hirt at No.1, freshmen Joelle Schwenk scored a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Magdi Rekasi at No. 3, and freshman Sarah Foster claimed a 6-4, 6-3 win over Tarryn Rudman to clinch the match. Freshman Liis Sober added a three-set win via super-tiebreaker for the final margin. Freshman Lara Maurer led 6-3 and 3-2 at No. 4 before retiring due to injury.

Kentucky concludes its road trip Sunday with a 2 p.m. EST match at No. 30 Ole Miss.

AGATE:

No. 21 Kentucky 5, Mississippi State 2

 Doubles 1. Kugakolova/Rekasi (MSU) def. Sarah Foster/ Schwenk (UK) - 9-7 2. Kalsarieva/Maurer (UK) def. Hirt/Switala (MSU) - 8-6 3. Simpson/Sober (UK) def. Hayley Rudman/Tarryn Rudman (MSU) - 8-5 Singles 1. #19 Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) def. Marcelle Hirt (MSU) - 6-0, 6-0 2. Anastasia Kugakolova (MSU) def. Lara Maurer (UK) - 3-6, 2-3 ret. 3. Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. Magdi Rekasi (MSU) - 6-1, 6-3 4. Sarah Foster (UK) def. Tarryn Rudman (MSU) - 6-4, 6-3 5. Liis Sober (UK) def. Justyna Switala (MSU) - 6-1, 6-7(2), 1-0(4) 6. Yumi Ueda (MSU) def. Christine Simpson (UK) - 6-0, 6-1