April 17, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis dropped its opening match in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, losing 4-2 to LSU on Wednesday afternoon at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre in Starkville, Miss.
The Wildcats fell behind early as LSU won the doubles point. Nadia Ravita and Caitlin McGraw gave UK the edge in doubles competition with a quick 8-0 win in the No. 1 doubles slot but LSU’s Ebie Wilson and Keri Frankenberger responded with an 8-1 win on court two.
With the first two doubles matches decided, LSU was leading 5-3 on court three. Khristina Blajkevitch and Jessica Stiles made a run at the LSU duo, breaking to get the match to 7-6 but the Tigers responded and won the following game, winning the match 8-6 and claiming the doubles point for LSU.
Freshman Nadia Ravita gave the Wildcats a spark from court one in singles play, quickly sealing the No. 1 singles point in straight sets. Ravita and LSU’s Kaitlin Burns were tied 5-5 in the first set when Ravita took two straight games to clinch the set 7-5 and eventually win the second set 6-3 to close the match.
After Ravita tied the match at 1-1, LSU responded with wins on courts two and three to take a 3-1 lead. Ella Taylor won the point in the No. 3 singles slot for LSU with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Edmée Morin-Kougoucheff.
On court two, Kentucky senior Jessica Stiles dominated the first set, winning it 6-0 but Mary Jeremiah would respond for the Tigers. Jeremiah bounced back with a 6-3 win of the second set to split and then finalized the come-from-behind win with a 6-4 win in the third set.
With Kentucky a point away from elimination, Caitlin McGraw brought the Wildcats back within one point with a singles win on court four. The junior won in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6 (3).
The match would be decided in the No. 5 singles position with Khristina Blajkevitch facing LSU’s Keri Frankenberger. Frankenberger took the first set 6-4 but Blajkevitch responded by winning the second set 6-4 to force a third set. The third set would decide the outcome of the match as Frankenberger won it 6-3 to clinch the Tigers’ fourth point.
The match was called at decision so court six was abandoned, where sophomore Stephanie Fox was leading 5-2 in the third set.
LSU will advance to face No. 6 Vanderbilt on Thursday.
Kentucky will now wait to find out its postseason fate during the NCAA.com Selection Show on April 30 at 5:30 p.m.
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No. 14 LSU 4, No. 11 Kentucky 2
A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre – Starkville, Miss.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*)
1- Caitlin McGraw/Nadia Ravita (UK) def. Ariel Morton/Mary Jeremiah (LSU) 8-0
2- Ebie Wilson/Keri Frankenberger (LSU) def. Stephanie Fox/Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) 8-1
3- Kaitlin Burns/Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Khristina Blajkevitch/Jessica Stiles (UK) 8-2
Singles (Order of finish: 1, 3, 2, 4, 5*)
1- No. 22 Nadia Ravita (UK) def. No 117 Kaitlin Burns (LSU) 7-5, 6-3
2- Mary Jeremiah (LSU) def. Jessica Stiles (UK) 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
3- Ella Taylor (LSU) def. Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) 6-3, 6-2
4- Caitlin McGraw (UK) def. Ariel Morton (LSU) 7-5, 7-6 (3)
5- Keri Frankenberger (LSU) def. Khristina Blajkevitch (UK) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
6- Stephanie Fox (UK) vs. Ebie Wilson (LSU) 6-1, 3-6, 5-2 susp.
