April 3, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 20 Kentucky (11-6 overall, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) women’s tennis team `s 13th doubles point of the season and junior Christine Johnston’s incredible comeback highlighted Friday afternoon’s match at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. Although UK took the first lead of the day, the No. 27 Ole Miss Rebels (10-6, 3-4 SEC) were difficult to contain in singles as they defeated the Wildcats, 5-2.

Whitney Spencer and Lauren Meier kept the Cats afloat in doubles, clinching the first point of the day. The Cats had an early lead but the Rebels’ rally brought them to lead 8-7. UK made a strong comeback effort to win the deciding tie-break, 9-8(5). As a duo, Meier and Spencer remain undefeated in conference play with a 7-0 record. Court two also required a tie-break as Johnston and Megan Broderick battled with Abigail Guthrie and Gabriela Rangel. The Kentucky pair came out on top, 9-8(2).

Scoring UK’s only win in singles was Columbus, Ohio, native Johnston on court four. No win came easy for either the Wildcat or the Rebel. Johnston fell in the first set, 7-5 to Rangel. It looked as if Ole Miss was going to earn a quick second set as well with a 5-1 lead over Johnston but the Wildcat made an amazing comeback to win 7-5. The third set was equally as exciting. Rangel again jumped out in front, but the Wildcat would not back down. Johnston went on to win the match with a tie-breaker, 7-6(6).

Ole Miss had clinched the match with wins on courts one, two, three and five. UK’s Escamilla and Broderick each faced defeat on courts one and two, respectively. Broderick dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision against Karen Nijssen. Escamilla came off the courts shortly following her teammate after a 6-2, 6-4 defeat by Kristi Boxx.

Kentucky’s Meier fell to the Rebels after she fought her way through three sets against Laura van de Stroet on court three. Meier secured the second set, 7-5 but van de Stroet took sets one and three, 6-4 and 6-3, respectively. The Rebels’ Guthrie grabbed a match winning 6-3, 6-3 victory over Spencer on court five and Mimi Renaudin of Ole Miss defeated Kentucky’s Jennifer Stone, 6-2, 7-5 on court six.

The Wildcats will face the No. 61 Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-5, 0-5 SEC) at noon on Sunday, April 5, at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.

#27 Ole Miss 5, #20 Kentucky 2

Doubles

1. Boxx/Nijssen (OM) def. #40 Escamilla/Lilley (UK), 8-2
2. Johnston/ Broderick (UK) def. Guthrie/Rangel (OM), 9-8(2)
3. Meier/Spencer (UK) def. Renaudin/Van de Stroet (OM), 9-8(5)

Singles

1. Kristi Boxx (OM) def. Carolina Escamilla (UK), 6-2, 6-4
2. Karen Nijssen (OM) def. Megan Broderick (UK), 6-4, 6-4
3. Laura van de Stroet (OM) def. Lauren Meier (UK), 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
4. Christine Johnston (UK) def. Gabriela Rangel (OM), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(5)
5. Abigail Guthrie (OM) def. Whitney Spencer (UK), 6-3, 6-3
6. Mimi Renaudin (OM) def. Jennifer Stone (UK), 6-2, 7-5

Finish Order

Doubles: 1, 2, 3 Singles: 2, 1, 3, 5*, 4, 6