TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ? Kentucky fell just short in its bid for its first SEC Women?s Tennis Tournament title, as third-seeded Florida overcame a 1-0 deficit to knock off the Cats by a 4-2 count in Sunday?s final at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
Kentucky took control of doubles at the outset with a quick start at the No. 2 slot. UK?s Kim Coventry and Joelle Schwenk assumed a 4-1 lead at second doubles, though Florida?s Whitney Benik and Alex Liles came within 6-5. UK held off a late Gator rally to take an 8-6 win. UK?s Emily Foster and Lara Maurer dropped the first game at third doubles but took the next five games for a 5-1 lead. The Gators pulled within 5-3 but UK took the next two games for a 7-3 lead. After Florida took the next three games, UK closed out the match to earn the doubles point. UK?s Aibika Kalsarieva and Sarah Foster held a 6-5 lead at the first slot, but the match was suspended with the doubles outcome settled at the second and third positions.
Florida evened the match at one apiece, as Benik scored a 6-1, 6-2 win over UK?s Schwenk at the fourth singles position. The Gators took the lead shortly thereafter when Nina Suvak defeated UK?s Sarah Foster, 6-1, 6-1 at the No. 3 singles slot.
At the fifth position, UK?s Maurer claimed the first set against UF?s Liles by a 6-2 count and held off Liles in the second set to win, 6-4 and even the match at two. UK?s Coventry won her first set against Florida?s Zerene Reyes at No. 2, and Kentucky?s Danielle Petrisko captured her first set at sixth singles against Boglarka Berecz. Reyes rallied to win the second set at No. 2, 6-3, and and Berecz rallied from a 5-4 deficit to force another third set.
Coventry took a 2-1 third-set lead, but Reyes seized control from there, taking the final five games. During the final set at No. 2, equally tight matches progressed at the one and six positions. Kalsarieva held a one-set lead and was tied at five with Florida?s Jennifer Magley at the No.1position. Meanwhile, at No. 6, UK?s Petrisko split the first two sets against Berecz and led 5-4 in the final set.
Petrisko trailed 2-0 in the third set but produced a timely service break and took a 3-2 lead. Petrisko and Berecz each held serve, with Petrisko taking a 5-4 lead. Petrisko led 30-15 in the tenth game, but Berecz swept the remaining points to even the set at five. Berecz took the next game for a 6-5 lead as Reyes clinched against Coventry to give the Gators the 3-2 lead. Only moments later, Berecz provided the clinching point for Florida. In a 20-minute span, the Cats went from being able to clinch the match with wins in two more games ? one at No. 1 and one at No. 6 ? to suffering a tough defeat to the Gators, as the momentum swung in Florida?s favor late in the match.
?Both teams deserve a ton of credit,? UK Coach Mark Guilbeau said. ?It was a great match and it was played at an extremely high level. From our standpoint, I feel this weekend saw the highest level of tennis ever played by the UK tennis program. For Florida to withstand that, as well as the loss of the doubles point and four first sets in singles is very impressive. I am very sorry for our kids, but want them to know that they deserve the victory as well and should be very proud of their efforts and competitiveness throughout this tournament as well as this entire season. The coaching staff is very proud of this UK team.?
The Cats will take a well-deserved break before beginning play in an NCAA regional on May 13. Kentucky is expected to host NCAA first and second-round matches in Lexington. The participating teams and sites will be announced by the NCAA tournament selection committee on May 6.
No. 8 Florida 4, No. 3 Kentucky 2
Doubles
1. S. Foster/Kalsarieva (UK) vs. Magley/Reyes (UF) ? 6-5, susp.
2. Coventry/Schwenk (UK) def. Benik/Liles (UF) ? 8-6
3. E. Foster/Maurer (UK) def. Berecz/Suvak (UF) ? 8-6
Singles
1. Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) vs. Jennifer Magley (UF) ? 7-6 (2), 5-5, susp.
2. Zerene Reyes (UF) def. Kim Coventry (UK) ? 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
3. Nina Suvak (UF) def. Sarah Foster (UK) ? 6-1, 6-1
4. Whitney Benik (UF) def. Joelle Schwenk (UK) ? 6-1, 6-2
5. Lara Maurer (UK) def. Alex Liles (UF) ? 6-2, 6-4
6. Boglarka Berecz (UF) def. Danielle Petrisko (UK) ? 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
