LEXINGTON ? The 23rd-ranked Kentucky women?s tennis team puts its five-match unbeaten streak on the line Sunday at Noon when it welcomes No. 54 Arkansas to the Boone Tennis Center for a matinee.
The Wildcats are 11-1 overall and their current win streak has led them to a 3-0 start in Southeastern Conference play. At home, UK is a perfect 7-0 this year and has won 10 straight dating back to last season. The LadyBacks enter with a 6-5 mark, but are 0-3 in league action.
“We are excited to about the opportunity to play against Arkansas and try to keep up this momentum,” Kentucky head coach Carlos Drada said. “I hope we continue to play with a lot of poise and confidence off what we’ve accomplished the past week.”
Each of Kentucky?s three conference wins have been by a 4-3 decision, including over No. 32 LSU on Friday. In that match, sophomore Jessica Giuggioli rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, victory on court six to seal the victory.
Prior to Giuggioli?s clincher, the Wildcats rolled up their three near-automatic points from Joelle Schwenk, Sarah Woestmann and at doubles. Schwenk, ranked 87th, has won 14 of her last 15 overall matches and is 11-1 in dual action this year, primarily at No. 2. Woestmann is 11-1 this season and has won 12 sets at one or love this year. She moved up to No. 3 singles on Friday and scored a dominating 6-1, 6-0 win.
In doubles, the Wildcats have lost the point just twice on the season. Schwenk and Kim Coventry anchor the lineup at the top. The duo has one dual defeat and is 17-3 overall this year en route to a No. 2 national ranking.
Arkansas is coming off a 7-0 defeat at the hands of 35th-ranked Vanderbilt on Friday. The LadyBacks are led by Ela Kaluder, the reigning SEC Player of the Week. She has just one dual defeat on the season, that coming to the Commodores.