March 4, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team concluded its first weekend of SEC play with another devastatingly close match. The Wildcats faced the Razorbacks of Arkansas at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Complex and fell, 4-3.
The Cats put on an almost identical performance as they did against LSU just a day before where every match required a battle in both doubles and singles play.
In doubles, No. 55 Jessica Stiles and Khristina Blajkevtich faced Laurie Gringras and Claudine Paulson in a tight match. The pairs each fought hard, but Arkansas came out on top, 8-6. Sophomores Marni Venter and Cece Witten paired up to take on Kate Lukomskaya and Catherine Parenteau and brought home a win for the Cats, but the victory couldn’t carry the Cats to take the doubles point.
Singles play was just even more competitive for the Wildcats. Freshman Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff was the first to grab a victory for Kentucky and put the team on the boards. She faced Lukomskaya in a tough match and won, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
Stiles followed with a win in the most cutthroat match of the day at the No. 1 spot. The junior faced Emily Carbone and won in two sets that each required a tiebreaker. Stiles’ hard work paid off, though, as she took the victory, 7-6 (0), 7-6 (4), and with it, another point for Kentucky.
Another notable freshman, Stephanie Fox, tied up the match for the Cats. Fox defeated Gingras, 6-3, 6-2, to make for a 3-3 score.
The result of the match fell upon Kentucky’s Cece Witten and Arkansas’ Catherine Parenteau, who occupied the No. 6 slot. Witten made a valiant effort, but could not stop Parenteau, who won, 6-3, 6-3.
The Cats will look to build upon their experiences from the weekend as they prepare to travel to Columbia, S.C. The team will enter into their third SEC match of the season against South Carolina on March 9 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
For continuing coverage of UK women’s tennis log on to UKathletics.com.
No. 32 Arkansas 4, No. 74 Kentucky 3
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex – Lexington, Ky.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Singles
1 – Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Emily Carbone (ARK) 7-6 (0), 7-6 (4)
2 – Claudine Paulson (ARK) def. Caitlin McGraw (UK) 6-2, 6-3
3 – Stephanie Roy (ARK) def. Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) 6-3, 6-3
4 – Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) def. Kate Lukomskaya (ARK) 7-6 (4), 6-3
5 – Stephanie Fox (UK) def. Laurie Gingras (ARK) 6-3, 6-2
6 – Catherine Parenteau (ARK) def. Cece Witten (UK) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1 – Laurie Gingras/Claudine Paulson (ARK) def. No. 55 Jessica Stiles/Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) 8-6
2 – Emily Carbone/Stephanie Roy (ARK) def. Caitlin McGraw/Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) 8-4
3 – Marni Venter/CeCe Witten (UK) def. Kate Lukomskaya/Catherine Parenteau (ARK) 8-5
Order of Finish:
Singles – 2, 3, 4, 1, 5, 6*
Doubles – 2, 1*, 3
* denotes clinching doubles/match point
