LEXINGTON ? The 22nd-ranked Kentucky women?s tennis team dropped No. 65 Mississippi State by a dominating 6-1 score on a windy Friday afternoon at the Boone Tennis Stadium.
The Wildcats improve the best start in school history at 14-1 overall with their eighth straight win. A majority of the streak has come in Southeastern Conference play as UK is now 5-0 in the conference for the second time in three years. At home, UK is a perfect 9-0 this year and has won 12 straight dating back to last season.
?I?m proud of our effort today,? Kentucky head coach Carlos Drada said. ?We showed strength in our fundamentals, which should help us in the long term. Hopefully we can continue to work hard and bring the best out of each player. That happened today.?
Kentucky got its customary points in doubles and from Joelle Schwenk and Sarah Woestmann in singles. For the 12th time in 14 matches UK has played doubles, the Wildcats took the point. Fifth-ranked Schwenk and Kim Coventry struck first with an 8-5 win over Martina Banikova and Valeriya Makarycheva on court one. Woestmann and Carolina Escamilla clinched the point with an 8-6 win at No. 2 over Elna de Villiers and DeAndra Saddler.
In singles, Schwenk and Woestmann each ran their dual record to 14-1 on the season with straight set wins. Woestmann was first off the court for UK after cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 win over Daniela Juskova at No. 3. The second set marked the 15th this year she?s won at one or love.
Schwenk took her time to beat de Villiers, 7-5, 6-1 on court two. The win was her 17th in her last 18 outings, with all the wins coming in straight sets. She?s currently on an eight-match win streak dating back to Feb. 18. Her win made it 5-0 in Kentucky?s favor.
On court six, Whitney Spencer scored UK?s second singles victory by soundly defeating Makarycheva, 6-3, 6-2. Carolina Escamilla followed immediately with her third-consecutive win, a 6-4, 6-4 decision against Renee Joseph at No. 4.
Jessica Giuggioli scored the Wildcats? final point after rallying for a 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5 over Saddler. Banikova knocked off Kim Coventry, 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 to finally get Mississippi State on the board, well after the match had been decided.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday as it goes for a Magnolia state sweep when Ole Miss comes to the Boone Tennis Stadium at Noon.
