Kentucky sophomore Kim Coventry defeated another ranked opponent Sunday, but fifth-ranked Northwestern (3-0) proved to be too much for No. 14 Kentucky (3-1), as NU claimed a 4-1 victory at the City of Bryan Indoor Tennis Center in Bryan, Texas.

After Northwestern swept through doubles play to take a 1-0 lead, NU added to its cushion when fourth-ranked Cristelle Grier defeated UK?s 30th-ranked Sarah Foster by a 6-2, 6-3 count. Top-ranked freshman Audra Cohen pushed the Northwestern lead to 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over seventh-ranked senior Aibika Kalsarieva. Coventry rebounded from a 6-0 first-set loss to NU?s 49th-ranked Alexis Prousis to post 6-1 and 6-4 second and third-set showings for the lone Kentucky win on the day.

Northwestern clinched the match at the No. 4 slot when Valerie Vladea defeated UK?s Joelle Schwenk, 6-4, 6-2. The remaining two matches at the Nos. 5 and 6 positions were suspended.

Kentucky returns to the courts this Thursday at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Madison, Wis. UK?s first-round opponent will be announced Monday afternoon.

No. 5 Northwestern 4, No. 14 Kentucky 1
Doubles

1. (1) Cohen/Grier (NU) def. (7) S. Foster/Kalsarieva (UK) ? 9-7
2. Prousis/Roemer (NU) def. (11) Coventry/Schwenk (UK) ? 8-5
3. Peisel/Vladea (NU) def. Maurer/Schwenk (UK) ? 8-2

Singles

1. (1) Audra Cohen (NU) def. (7) Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) ? 6-3, 6-2
2. (4) Cristelle Grier (NU) def. (30) Sarah Foster (UK) ? 6-2, 6-3
3. (58) Kim Coventry (UK) def. (49) Alexis Prousis (NU) – 0-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Valerie Vladea (NU) def. Joelle Schwenk (UK) ? 6-4, 6-2
5. Lara Maurer (UK) vs. Jamie Peisel (NU) ? 5-5, susp.
6. Danielle Petrisko (UK) vs. Alexis Conill (NU) ? 3-4, susp.