March 26, 2010

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team was bested by Auburn 5-2 on Friday at the City of Auburn-Yarbrough Tennis Center.

Kentucky earned both of its points in singles play at Nos. 3 and 4. Sophomore Minnette Pienaar (Graaf-Reinet, South Africa) took UK’s first point at court No. 4 rallying from a 5-2 deficit in the first set to claim a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Caroline Thorton.

UK senior Christine Johnston held off Auburn’s Myrthe Molenveld 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) to win at No. 3 singles. The Kentucky captain now holds a respectable 9-6 singles record.

Wildcat sophomore Caroline Lilley battled Daniela Vukadinovic of Auburn (8-5, 2-3 SEC), but fell 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2 singles.

The Wildcats doubles tandem of Pienaar and Lilley earned an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles over Molenveld and Thorton.

Kentucky returns home to square off against Alabama at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. When the two squads last met, the Wildcats knocked off then-No. 24 Alabama on Jan. 30 during the ITA Kickoff Weekend 4-3.

Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for complete coverage of UK women’s tennis.

AGATE

Kentucky (2-13, 0-5 SEC) 2, No. 50 Auburn (8-5, 2-3 SEC) 5

Singles

1.  No. 46 Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. No. 123 Megan Broderick (UK) 6-3, 6-1
2. Daniela Vukadinovic (AU) def. Caroline Lilley (UK) 7-5, 6-3
3. Christine Johnston (UK)  def. Myrthe Molenveld (AU) 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
4. Minnette Pienaar (UK) def. Caroline Thornton (AU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Paulina Schnippers (AU) def. Nicole Scates (UK) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jil Hastenrath (AU) def. Elle Coldiron (UK) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles

1. Caroline Lilley/Minette Pienaar (UK) def. Myrthe Molenveld/Caroline Thornton (AU) 8-5
2. Fani Chifchieva/Jil Hastenrath (AU) def. Megan Broderick/Christine Johnston (UK) 8-1
3. Plamena Kurteva/Paulina Schippers (AU) vs. Elle Coldiront/Nicole Scates (UK) 8-0

Order of finish: Doubles 2, 3, 1*; Singles: 6, 5, 1*, 4, 3, 2

-Go Cats-