AUBURN, Ala. ? The No. 22 Wildcats (15-9 overall, 6-7 SEC) were taken out of the SEC Tournament by the Georgia Bulldogs (18-4, 10-2) Friday morning. The Dogs defeated Kentucky, 4-1.
The second day of the SEC Tournament had the Cats pitted against No. 8 Georgia. On court three, Kentucky?s Lauren Meier and Whitney Spencer faced Monika Dancevic and Adrienne Elsberry. The score remained even for four points, reflecting 4-4, until the Bulldogs grabbed the fifth point and ran with it. With Georgia taking the first court to finish, Kentucky needed to hold back the Dogs on courts one and two.
The No. 49 duo of Christine Johnston and Carolina Escamilla of UK stood strong at court one, while Megan Broderick and Alaina Trgovich defended the Cats on court two. Tight scores plagued both courts, with neither one able to pull ahead. Despite solid hits, Georgia?s Naoko Ueshima and Cameron Ellis gained a lead on court two and finished with an 8-4 decision, giving UGA the doubles point. Court one was suspended with Johnston and Escamilla in the lead at 6-4 over No. 42 Bulldog pair of Kelley and Yvette Hyndman.
Georgia increased their lead in singles with a win on court five. Ellis defeated Meier 6-4, 6-4 to bring the Bulldogs up to a two-point lead.
UK?s Spencer answered the Bulldog point with one of her own. Putting the Cats on the board for the first time during the afternoon, Spencer defeated Elsberry 6-2, 6-4.
Kentucky kept a tight hold on the matches on courts one, two, and three. As the crowd held their breath, the Bulldogs? No. 76 K. Hyndman defeated Escamilla for the fourth match point.
UK won first sets on courts one and two with Broderick and Johnston, respectively. Broderick beat out Y. Hyndman in a first set tie-breaker to take the first round 7-6(4). The second set was a battle of talent, but was suspended at 5-4 after Georgia took the fourth match point on court two. Kentucky?s Johnston also led the match with No. 91 Dancevic in the first set, 6-4, and held a close 3-4 tally in the second set.
The Georgia win sends them into the semi-finals against number three-seeded Arkansas who defeated LSU earlier this morning, 4-0. The championship match will take place on Sunday April 20 at noon CT.
The Wildcats? loss ends the team?s tour of the 2008 SEC Tournament but does not count them out in post season action. Kentucky will next compete in the NCAA Championship first round. The location for the first two rounds of the championship is yet to be disclosed and will take place on May 9 through May 10.
For complete coverage of the Kentucky women?s tennis team visit, www.ukathletics.com.
#8 Georgia 4, #22 Kentucky 1
Singles
1: #102 Megan Broderick (UK) led #42 Yvette Hyndman (UGA), 7-6(4), 5-4 susp.
2: #76 Kelley Hyndman def. Carolina Escamilla (UK), 6-4, 6-3
3: Christine Johnston (UK) led #91 Monika Dancevic (UGA), 6-4, 3-4 susp.
4: #109 Naoko Ueshima (UGA) def. Alaina Trgovich (UK), 6-4, 6-4
5: Cameron Ellis (UGA) def. Lauren Meier (UK), 6-4, 6-4
6: Whitney Spencer (UK) def. Adrienne Elsberry (UGA), 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1: #49 Escamilla/Johnston (UK) led #42 K. Hyndman/Y. Hyndman (UGA), 6-4 susp.
2: Ueshima/Ellis (UGA) def. Broderick/Trgovich (UK), 8-4
3: Dancevic/Elsberry (UGA) def. Spencer/Meier (UK), 8-4
