AUBURN, Ala. ? The No. 23 Wildcats (11-5 overall, 2-3 SEC) slid past the No. 30 Auburn Tigers (12-5, 3-3) with a suspenseful 4-3 victory Sunday afternoon in Auburn, Ala. In the four and a half hour match, Kentucky continued to trade points with the Tigers, but managed to never relinquish the lead.
UK began with success in doubles, claiming the coveted first point of the day. Auburn?s Alex Haney and Melissa Koning won court one against Kentucky?s Megan Broderick and Carolina Escamilla, 8-2, but the Tigers were unable to produce a win on the other courts. The Wildcats claimed courts two and three with confidence. The UK duo of Christine Johnston and Alaina Trgovich took over Auburn?s Gaby Beelen and Jil Hastenrath on court two, 8-3. Following close behind were Cat?s Sarah Woestmann and Whitney Spencer on court three with an 8-4 victory over AU?s Fani Chifchieva and Dunja Djuranovic.
The doubles win momentum was carried into singles action, but Auburn also stepped up the game tempo. Finishing first was UK?s Trgovich on court five against Tiger Hastenrath. After a sticky first set of 6-4, Trgovich dominated the second set with a 6-1 finish for the Cats? second point of the day. Auburn got its first taste of success after Tiger Beelen defeated UK?s Lauren Meier in a three set battle. Meier took the first bout 6-4 but was unable to take the next two sets; Beelen won 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Auburn managed to tie the score, 2-2, after they took court three. Kentucky?s Escamilla lost the first set 6-2 to AU?s Koning but the Cat won a flawless second set 6-0. Unfortunately the tables turned in the third set with Koning finishing the final set 6-3. UK regained the lead for the third time in the form of a tiebreaker after Broderick defeated Auburn?s Haney, 6-3, 7-6. The lead was not held for long, and the Kentucky point was answered by Tiger Chifchieva on court one. Chifchieva defeated UK?s Woestmann in another three set battle, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
With the score once again tied at 3-3, the final point was decided by Kentucky?s Johnston on court four. Johnston rallied with Auburn?s Whitney Chappell in a first set tie break to win 7-6. Both teams anxiously awaited a second set to either seal a Kentucky win or find hope for a Tiger comeback. In a high intensity match, Johnston slammed home a 6-2 decision for the Wildcat win.
The Wildcats will stay on the road and head to Mississippi. Friday March 28 the Cats will occupy the courts at 2 p.m. ET in Starkville, Miss. at Mississippi State. Kentucky will then play the Rebels of Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Sunday March 30 at noon ET. For complete coverage of Kentucky women?s tennis, please visit www.ukathletics.com.
#23 Kentucky 4, #30 Auburn 3
Singles
1: #24 Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. #83 Sarah Woestmann (UK), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
2: Megan Broderick (UK) def. Alex Haney (AU), 6-3, 7-6
3: Melissa Koning (AU) def. Carolina Escamilla (UK), 6-2, 0-6, 6-3
4: Christine Johnston (UK) def. Whitney Chappell (AU), 7-6, 6-2
5: Alaina Trgovich (UK) def. Jil Hastenrath (AU), 6-4, 6-1
6: Gaby Beelen (AU) def. Lauren Meier (UK), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1: #27 Haney/Koning (AU) def. Broderick/Escamilla (UK), 8-2
2: Johnston/Trgovich (UK) def. Beelen/Hastenrath (AU), 8-3
3: Spencer/Woestmann (UK) def. Chifchieva/Djuranovic (AU), 8-4
