April 10, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore Jessica Stiles earned a straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 victory over LSU’s Olivia Howlett, but it was not enough to upset the No. 54 Lady Tigers as the Kentucky women’s tennis team fell 5-2 on Senior Day at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday.
Stiles, a native of Wyckoff, N.J., played strong tennis all afternoon at No. 2 singles en route to earning her co-team leading ninth singles victory of the dual-meet season and her third Southeastern Conference victory of the season.
Freshman Caitlin McGraw won her seventh match of the spring season and second in conference play over LSU’s Ebie Wilson. Trailing 6-3 after the first set, McGraw rebounded in the second to take a 3-1 lead when Wilson retired.
LSU swept the doubles point with Kylie Adamek and Keri Frankenberger sealing the point with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles. Frankenberger later sealed the 5-2 team win with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles over UK freshman Cece Witten.
Freshman Khristina Blajkevitch came painstakingly close to earning her team-leading 10th singles victory of the season. Blajkevitch, playing at No. 3 singles, dropped the first set 6-3 before rebounding with a 6-3 victory of her own in the second set. Blajkevitch lost the match in the third set in a 10-point super tiebreaker 12-10.
Stiles’ ninth victory on Sunday puts her in a tie with Blajkevitch for tops on the team. Blajkevitch won her ninth singles match on Friday against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
The Wildcats (4-18, 2-8 SEC) have one more match remaining on their regular season, a home date Friday against No. 21 Vanderbilt. Kentucky will recognize Broderick, Lauren Meier and Nicole Scates on Senior Day.
Go to UKathletics.com for all Kentucky women’s tennis news.
AGATE
W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium
Baton Rouge, La.
April 10, 2011
No. 54 LSU 5, Kentucky 2
Doubles competition:
1) No. 62 Wolf/Burns (LSU) def. Broderick/Blajkevitch (UK) 8-7
2) Howlett/Morton (LSU) def. Marni Venter/Caitlin McGraw (UK) 8-4
3) Adamek/Frankenberger (LSU) def. CeCe Witten/Jessica Stiles (UK) 8-4
Singles competition:
1) No. 66 Whitney Wolf (LSU) def. Megan Broderick (UK) 6-2, 6-1
2) Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Olivia Howlett (LSU) 6-3, 6-3
3) Kaitlin Burns (LSU) def. Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10)
4) Caitlin McGraw (UK) def. Ebie Wilson (LSU) 3-6, 3-1 (retired)
5) Keri Frankenberger (LSU) def. Cece Witten (UK) 6-2, 6-2
6) Ariel Morton (LSU) def. Misha Testerman (UK) 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish:
Doubles: 2, 3*, 1
Singles: 1, 6, 5*, 2, 4, 3
