NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats fell short against No. 11 Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon. The Commodore defeated the Cats in a tight match, 4-3.
For the second time this weekend, the Cats split wins in doubles with their opponent. Vanderbilt took the first win on court two against UK?s Megan Broderick and Alaina Trgovich. Taka Bertrand and Catherine Newman took a strong hold on their lead and finished out the match 8-4.
Hoping to regain the Wildcats? momentum, courts one and three were left to decide the outcome. Kentucky?s No. 37 nationally ranked pair of Carolina Escamilla and Christine Johnston rallied with the Commodores? No. 21 pair Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery on court one. Points remained tight, reaching 8-8. A tie-breaker would decide to keep either side alive in doubles. The Wildcats held on for the win at 9-8(4).
Both teams anxiously waited for court three to finish and decided the point. A Vanderbilt win seemed to be close when the Cats were trailing 1-4. Sarah Woestmann and Whitney Spencer of UK stepped up to the line and tied the match 7-7. After another Kentucky set to make it 8-7, it was a battle of the volleys. Woestmann and Spencer kept Big Blue in the game with a 9-7 victory over Caroline Ferrell and Keilly Ulery.
Vandy put its first point on the board with a win on court three. Ranked nationally at No. 117 Bertrand defeated Woestmann, 6-1, 6-1. Kentucky pulled back ahead 2-1 after UK?s Meier quickly finished the match on court five. Meier controlled the match against K. Ulery for a 6-2, 6-3 win.
The 17th nationally ranked player Taylor of Vanderbilt earned the second point to time the match against Broderick. Taylor earned the win with a 6-3, 6-2 decision. However Kentucky answered the Vandy point immediately with critical win on court four. Johnston defeated No. 69 C. Ulery in the first set 6-3. The second set went into an extra point after a 6-5 score in Kentucky?s favor. Johnston took the next point for a 7-5 win to keep the Cats ahead at 3-2.
On court six UK?s Spencer ran the second set to a 6-5 tally. The first set had been awarded to the Commordores at 6-3 and VU?s Ferrell ran out the second set for a 7-5 victory, tying the score 3-3. Vandy?s Taylor secured the final and winning point of the day on court two. After winning the first set 6-0, Kentucky?s Escamilla fell in tie-break 7-6(0). With all eyes on them, the two athletes rallied back and forth to finalize the match. Taylor came out on top with a 6-2 decision to send the Commodores to the Sweet Sixteen in Tulsa.
Sixteen teams will head to Tulsa, Okla. during May 15-26 at the University of Tulsa for the NCAA Tournament Round of 16. Complete regional tournament information will be available at http://vucommodores.cstv.com. Full NCAA Tournament information can be found at www.ncaa.com.
For complete coverage of the Kentucky women?s tennis team visit, www.ukathletics.com.
#11 Vanderbilt 4, #23 Kentucky 3
Singles
1: #17 Amanda Taylor (VU) def. #85 Megan Broderick (UK), 6-3, 6-2
2: #48 Catherine Newman (VU) def. Carolina Escamilla (UK), 0-6, 7-6(0), 6-2
3: #117 Taka Bertrand (VU) def. #101 Sarah Woestmann (UK), 6-1, 6-1
4: Christine Johnston (UK) def. #69 Courtney Ulery (VU), 6-3, 7-5
5: Lauren Meier (UK) def. Keilly Ulery (VU), 6-2, 6-3
6: Caroline Ferrell (VU) def. Whitney Spencer (UK), 6-3, 7-5
Doubles
1: #37 Escamilla/Johnston (UK) def. #21 Taylor/C. Ulery (VU), 9-8(4)
2: Bertrand/Newman (VU) def. Broderick/Trgovich (UK), 8-4
3: Spencer/Wostmann (UK) def. Ferrell/K. Ulery (VU), 9-7
Order of Finish: Doubles: 2, 1, 3 Singles: 3, 5, 1, 4, 6, 2
