LEXINGTON ? Sophomore Jessica Giuggioli came back from a set down to beat Anastasiya Dubova and lift 23rd-ranked Kentucky to a thrilling 4-3 victory ? its fifth straight ? over No. 32 LSU on Friday afternoon at the Boone Tennis Center.
Giuggioli fell behind early on court six, but rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, win over Dubova to break a 3-3 tie in the match and give UK the victory. It?s the second time this year she has dropped the first set and fought back, the other coming in the first tournament of the fall.
The 4-3 win is the third straight by that score for Kentucky, all coming in Southeastern Conference play. The Wildcats improved to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in the league while winning their 10th-straight home match dating back to last year.
?I am thrilled about getting this win over LSU,? Kentucky coach Carlos Drada said. ?Today was the best match we?ve played by far. We kept our emotions under control against a tough LSU team. I?m extremely excited for our team because they deserved this win.?
Kentucky rolled to a quick 3-1 lead by sweeping all three doubles matches and getting straight-set victories from No. 87 Joelle Schwenk and Sarah Woestmann. At No. 2, Schwenk dominated Mykala Hedberg, 6-4, 6-0, to pick up her 14th win in her last 15 outings.
Woestmann ran her career record to 11-1 with an easy 6-1, 6-0, thumping of Staten Spencer at No. 3. She now has won 12 sets at one or love this year.
In doubles action, Schwenk and fellow senior Kim Coventry continue to steamroll the competition. The nation?s second-ranked tandem beat the 43rd-ranked duo of Megan Falcon and Hannah Robinson, 8-6, at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point. Woestmann and Carolina Escamilla had earlier beaten Hedberg/Spencer on court two, 8-4.
Freshmen Whitney Spencer and Christine Johnston were broken early at No. 3, but the pair came back before beating Dubova and Tiffany Tucker, 8-7 (5).
?Today was a total team effort,? Drada said. ?Everybody on the team contributed to this victory and that?s a great thing to build on. You have to credit every player on our team for believing in themselves. This type of win helps build a foundation for more success later in the season.?
Falcon, ranked second nationally in singles, came back to beat Coventry at No. 1 singles while Robinson held off Spencer at No. 5 with a three-set win. Nicole Kantor scored LSU?s other point by downing Escamilla at on court four.
Kentucky goes for win number six in a row on Sunday when it hosts Arkansas. The match is currently slated for Noon, but could be moved up an hour to aid the LadyBacks travel plans.
