LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The No. 25 Kentucky Wildcats (14-7 overall, 5-5 SEC) upset the No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers Sunday afternoon. After a Friday loss to No. 10 Georgia, the Wildcats were able to regroup and bring the competition to the courts. UK took a solid victory of 5-2 against the Lady Vols.
The Cats gained momentum in doubles. Kentucky?s Carolina Escamilla and Christine Johnston played the nation?s 11th ranked doubles pair, Caitlin Whoriskey and Zsofia Zubor. The top 20 team overrode the Wildcats? two points for an 8-2 Tennessee win. However, the UK duo of Sarah Woestmann and Lauren Meier on court three prevented a Volunteer point. Hitting against Connor Vogel and Sam Orlin, Kentucky won the court, 8-4. Securing the Wildcat doubles point was freshman tandem, Megan Broderick and Alaina Trgovich on court two. The pair reeled in the victory 8-4, defeating Tennessee?s Ghizela Schutte and Rosalia Alda.
Finishing singles play almost in-sync were courts one and six. Kentucky freshman Broderick occupied court one with No. 51 Caitlin Whoriskey, who was also the SEC Athlete of the Week. Broderick hammered out a quick first set, not allowing any opponent points for a tally of 6-0. The UK freshman also dominated the second round with a 6-2 decision, defeating the nationally ranked player. Sophomore Spencer of the Wildcats took court six in another swift match. Spencer defeated Connor Vogel, only allowing two opposing points for a 6-0, 6-2. The UK victory gained the third point of the match and set the Cats up for the win.
The first point for Tennessee was on court two. The Cats? Woestmann took the first set, 6-2 but fell in the second bout, 3-6. Woestmann retired in the third set after UK secured the fourth point. Kentucky junior Escamilla clinched the UK upset, hitting 6-4, 6-3 against Orlin. The Wildcats success did not stop there. Nailing the fifth and final point for the Cats was freshman Meier on court five with a second set tie-break. Meier took the first set 6-4, and fought hard for the second set win. The Kentucky freshman defeated Alda in a tie-break, 7-6(3)
The day was finished with court five. Johnston of UK and Zubor played a difficult and lively match. Zubor took the first set 6-4, but Johnston fought back and won the second set in a tie-break, 7-6(3). The pair faced off in a 10-point tie-break to settle the match. Tennessee took the point, winning 10-3.
?I?m thrilled by the way the team competed today,? Head Coach Carlos Drada said. ?I hope we keep the same level of intensity and accountability through the remainder of the season.?
Kentucky will hit the road for the team?s last match of the regular season at No. 13 Vanderbilt. The match is scheduled for noon ET. For complete coverage of the Kentucky women?s tennis team, please visit www.ukathletics.com.
#25 Kentucky 5, #17 Tennessee 2
Singles
S1: Megan Broderick (UK) def. #51 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT), 6-0, 6-2
S2: Ghizela Schutte (UT) def. #110 Sarah Woestmann (UK), 2-6, 6-3, ret.
S3: Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. Sam Orlin (UT), 6-4, 6-3
S4: Zsofia Zubor (UT) def. Christine Johnston (UK), 6-4, 6-7(3), 10-3
S5: Lauren Meier (UK) def. Rosalia Alda, 6-4, 7-6(3)
S6: Whitney Spencer (UK) def. Connor Vogel (UT), 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1: #11 Whoriskey/Zubor (UT) def. Escamilla/Johnston (UK), 8-2
2: Broderick/Trgovich (UK) def. Schutte/Alda (UT), 8-5
3: Woestmann/Meier (UK) def. Vogel/Orlin (UT), 8-4
