ATHENS, Ga. ? Kentucky senior Aibika Kalsarieva outlasted Vanderbilt?s 17th-ranked Audra Falk in two tiebreak sets Wednesday to move on to Thursday?s NCAA women?s singles quarterfinals at Georgia?s Dan Magill Tennis Complex. Kalsarieva posted a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6) win over Falk, her second of the season over the Commodore All-American, to become the first Wildcat to make two appearances in the NCAA women?s singles quarterfinals. Kalsarieva will take on Florida?s Jennifer Magley, a three-set winner over Ole Miss? Chloe Carlotti, for the second time in a month after battling in the SEC Tournament final. Kalsarieva defeated Magley in straight sets earlier this season in Lexington and was up one set and tied at five in the second when their match was suspended in the Gators? SEC Tournament victory. The pair will do battle Thursday beginning at 11 a.m. EDT.
Falk jumped to a quick start to open the match, immediately breaking Kalsarieva?s service and subsequently holding serve for a 2-0 lead. Kalsarieva held in the third game and responded with a break and hold of her own for a 3-2 lead. Falk answered again, saving a break point to hold serve before breaking Kalsarieva again for a 4-3 VU lead.
Kalsarieva trailed 40-30 in the next game, but Falk double faulted, leading to a Kalsarieva break at four games apiece. Kalsarieva and Falk held serve the rest of the way, forcing a tiebreaker. Kalsarieva quickly took a 5-0 lead after dropping a well-placed lob behind Falk, who later saved one set point before smashing a forehand into the net, giving Kalsarieva the tiebreak, 7-3.
The second set began similarly to the first. Falk took a 2-0 lead before yielding her serve, cutting the lead to 2-1. Kalsarieva saved two break points in the next game, but Falk converted the third break point for a 3-1 lead. Kalsarieva saved a game point in the next game with a solid cross-court winner, broke Falk and held serve to even the set at three games all. Falk and Kalsarieva held serve through the next four games, but Kalsarieva, behind another perfect lob, recorded another service break for a 6-5 lead. At 15-15 in the following game, Falk called an injury timeout, which ultimately worked in her favor. Kalsarieva managed to save two break points in the last game but sent a final break-point backhand beyond the baseline, sending the set to a tiebreaker.
Falk took a 1-0 lead with a sharp forehand winner, though Kalsarieva responded with an overhead winner to even the tiebreak at one. Falk took a 2-1 lead when Kalsarieva sent a forehand wide. Kalsarieva drew even with a running forehand winner, though Falk took a 3-2 lead with a forehand volley. A Falk forehand into the net evened the tiebreak at three, but Falk took a 6-3 lead behind a Kalsarieva double fault, another forehand volley and an errant Kalsarieva backhand.
Kalsarieva?s perseverance and Falk?s errors on the ensuing points allowed Kalsarieva to creep back into contention and secure the win. A Falk backhand into the net and two long forehands evened the tiebreak at six and subsequent Falk forehands into the net gave Kalsarieva the victory.
Kalsarieva now is unbeaten in her last 16 matches against Southeastern Conference opponents. Her most recent loss to an SEC player came on Oct. 9, when she fell to Alabama?s Robin Stephenson at the ITA All-American Championships. A win Thursday would make Kalsarieva the first Wildcat to advance to the NCAA women?s singles semifinals. Kalsarieva fell shy of the semifinals a season ago after suffering a quarterfinal defeat to eventual NCAA finalist Jelena Pandzic of Fresno State.
Live scoring for all of Thursday?s NCAA singles and doubles quarterfinal matches will be available at georgiadogs.com.
NCAA Women?s Singles Championships ? Athens, Ga.
Round of 16
(4) Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) vs. No. 17 Audra Falk (VU) ? 7-6 (3), 7-6 (6)
Thursday, May 26
NCAA Singles Quarterfinals
(4) Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) vs. (5) Jennifer Magley (Florida) ? 11 a.m. EDT
