Feb. 17, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team recorded its second win over a ranked opponent of the week on Sunday, defeating No. 54 Indiana 4-3 at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Complex.
“I couldn’t be any more proud of my players,” UK head coach Carlos Drada said. “They have bought into our process and they’re actually believing that they can execute what they’ve been working on and that they can execute it under pressure.”
Kentucky earned an early lead Sunday morning, taking two of three doubles matches to clinch the doubles point. Sophomore Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff and junior Cece Witten paired up in the No. 2 doubles slot and won the first doubles match recorded, 8-1. Indiana took the No. 3 doubles match 8-3, leaving the doubles point to be decided on court one.
The No. 1 doubles match saw a constant back-and-forth as junior Caitlin McGraw and freshman Nadia Ravita looked to improve on their 3-1 record on the year by knocking off Leslie Hureau and Sophie Garre. The tandems were deadlocked at 4-4 before McGraw and Ravita surged to claim the match 8-6 and clinch the doubles point for Kentucky.
“We did great in doubles,” Drada said. “Winning that point was very important for us going forward in the match and obviously had a major impact on the outcome.”
Leading 1-0, Kentucky added on early in singles play with two quick wins in the No. 1 and 2 singles spots. Senior Jessica Stiles stepped up and took the No. 2 doubles point in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. On court one; Ravita battled Hureau in the first set, winning the tie-breaker 7-4 to take the first set. Ravita finished Hureau in the second set 6-3 and increased Kentucky’s lead to 3-0.
With Kentucky one point away from clinching the match, Indiana was not ready to back away. Morin-Kougoucheff and freshman Kirsten Lewis had taken the first sets on courts three and four but Alecia Kauss and Garre battled back to take both points in three sets.
Indiana took the No. 5 singles match in straight sets and tied the match at 3-3. Sophomore Stephanie Fox and Indiana’s Shannon Murdy took the court as the deciding match. Fox put the team on her back and defeated Murdy in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch the match for Kentucky.
“Stephanie was very solid today,” Drada said. “It was great to have her as our last player; she really stepped up to the opportunity.”
Kentucky’s match with Northern Kentucky on Sunday at 6 p.m. was cancelled and will be rescheduled for a future date.
The Wildcats will return to the courts on Tuesday, hosting Miami (Oh) at 4 p.m.
Kentucky – 4
No. 54 Indiana – 3
Doubles
1 – Caitlin McGraw/Nadia Ravita (UK) def. Sophie Garre/Leslie Hureau (IU) 8-6
2 – Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff/CeCe Witten (UK) def. Carolyn Chupa/Katie Klyczek (IU) 8-1
3 – Alecia Kauss/Shannon Murdy (IU) def. Kirsten Lewis/Jessica Stiles (UK) 8-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*
Singles
1 – Nadia Ravita (UK) def. Leslie Hureau (IU) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
2 – Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Katie Klyczek (IU) 6-2, 6-2
3 – Alecia Kauss (IU) def. Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) def. 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4 – Sophie Garre (IU) def. Kirsten Lewis (UK) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
5 – Carolyn Chupa (IU) def. Caitlin McGraw (UK) 6-0, 6-1
6 – Stephanie Fox (UK) def. Shannon Murdy (IU) 6-2, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 4, 3, 5, 6*
