Tampa, Fla. ? Kentucky freshman Carolina Escamilla fought off two match points Saturday against South Florida?s Iciri Rai with the match tied to give No. 30 Kentucky a 4-3 victory over 44th-ranked South Florida in Tampa. The win improved UK?s record to 7-5.
Kentucky got off to a quick start clinching the doubles point by winning all three matches.
In singles action, Kentucky received victories from junior Kim Coventry, freshman Jessica Giuggilo and Escamilla. Playing at the No. 1 spot in the lineup, Coventry notched her fifth win in her last six matches, all against ranked foes, when she defeated USF?s 53rd-ranked Neyssa Etienne 6-1, 6-2.
Giuggilo, a native of Torino, Italy, picked up the Cats’ second singles victory when she swept the Bulls? Luisa Obando 6-4, 6-0. The victory set up the decisive match at the No. 5 spot between Escamilla and Rai.
After falling in the first set to Rai, 6-7, Escamilla was down 5-3 in the second before rallying back. The Medellin, Colombia, native fell behind once again at 6-5 but broke serve and claimed the set 7-6. Escamilla went on to finish Rai off 6-2 in the third set to give UK the victory.
“I am really proud of our team,” head coach Carlos Drada said. “Especially our freshmen who displayed great discipline to follow the strategies needed to win. I believe this win will give us great momentum to begin our conference matches.”
The Cats will return to action on Friday at home when they open Southeastern Conference play against Auburn at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Fans can check ukathletics.com for live stats and a complete recap following the match?s conclusion.
DOUBLES
#1 Coventry-Escamilla (UK) def. Etienne-Duch (USF) 8-6
#2 Schwenk-Maurer (UK) def. Rai-Cruz (USF) 8-3
#3 Petrisko-Caroline Winebrenner (UK) def. Vernon-Obando (USF) 8-3
SINGLES
#1 Kim Coventry (UK) def. Neyssa Etienne (USF) 6-1, 6-2
#2 Courtney Vernon (USF) def. Lara Maurer (UK) 6-3, 6-2
#3 Liz Cruz (USF) def. Joelle Schwenk (UK) 6-1, 6-4
#4 Gabriela Duch (USF) def. Danielle Petrisko (UK) 6-2, 7-5
#5 Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. Iciri Rai (USF) 6-7, 7-6, 6-2
#6 Jessica Giuggilo (UK) def. Luisa Obando (USF) 6-4, 6-0
