March 3, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 53 ranked University of Kentucky women’s tennis team recorded its first Southeastern Conference win of the spring on Sunday, defeating No. 63 LSU 4-3 at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
“I am so grateful for this win,” UK head coach Carlos Drada said. “This is the first time this year that our team has been able to come from behind and get a win against a very good team. I was especially impressed with how much effort the team showed as a whole.”
The Wildcats dropped the doubles point as Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff and Cece Witten went down 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match. The Tigers clinched the doubles point with an 8-5 win on court three. The No. 1 doubles match was abandoned once the doubles point was decided.
Down 1-0, freshman Nadia Ravita regained some early momentum for Kentucky in the No. 1 singles slot with a quick 6-3, 6-1 win over Kaitlin Burns. Junior Caitlin McGraw dropped the No. 4 singles point, going down 6-0, 6-3, to enable LSU to regain a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers extended their lead to 3-1 with a 6-1, 7-5 win in the No. 3 singles slot. While the Wildcats were on the brink of defeat on the scoreboard, Kentucky had the lead in the three remaining courts.
Senior Jessica Stiles responded from a loss on Friday and started Kentucky’s climb back into the match, winning 6-4, 6-1 on court two.
Sophomore Stephanie Fox tied the match at 3-3, winning in straight sets on court six.
The tied scoreboard left UK’s Kirsten Lewis and LSU’s Caroline Hudson to decide the match on court five. Hudson quickly took a one-set lead, claiming the first set 6-1. Lewis battled and won a hard-earned second set, 7-5. With the match split, Lewis took the third, and match-clinching, set 6-4.
“The day was summed up by Kirsten’s comeback from 6-1, 5-1 down,” Drada said. “Coach (Kevin) Calhoun and her did a great job of staying in the present and doing all they could do to compete. All the compliments go to them.”
Lewis’ win on court five gave the Wildcats their fourth and match-clinching point, as Kentucky defeated LSU 4-3.
“This will put us in a great position to compete the rest of the season,” Drada said. “I am very proud of my team and grateful that they can enjoy that big win.”
With the win, Kentucky moves to 9-3 on the year while LSU drops to 7-5.
The Wildcats will return to the court on Friday, March 8th, hosting No. 71 Missouri at 4 p.m. in their first home SEC match of the year.
#53 Kentucky 4, #63 LSU 3
Singles competition
1. #51 Nadia Ravita (UK) def. Kaitlin Burns (LSU) 6-3, 6-1
2. Jessica Stiles (UK) def. Mary Jeremiah (LSU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) 6-1, 7-5
4. Ariel Morton (LSU) def. Caitlin McGraw (UK) 6-0, 6-3
5. Kirsten Lewis (UK) def. Caroline Hudson (LSU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
6. Stephanie Fox (UK) def. Ebie Wilson (LSU) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Mary Jeremiah/Ariel Morton (LSU) vs. Caitlin McGraw/Nadia Ravita (UK) 6-7, unfinished
2. Ebie Wilson/Keri Frankenberger (LSU) def. Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff/CeCe Witten (UK) 8-2
3. Kaitlin Burns/Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Jessica Stiles/Kirsten Lewis (UK) 8-5
Match Notes:
Kentucky 9-3; National ranking #53
LSU 7-5; National ranking #63
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (1,4,3,2,6,5)
