Oct. 20, 2013
MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team has five players advancing to the second round in main draw singles and two duos competing in the third round main draw doubles at the USTA/ITA Regionals in Memphis, Tenn.
“Today was a strong start to a long tournament,” assistant coach Kevin Calhoun said. “ The ladies solved their problems well and we’re in a really great position to have multiple players go deep in this tournament.”
Top seed Nadia Ravita took on Bethany Moore of Ball State and won the match with ease. Ravita took the first set, 6-3 and the second set, 6-0.
No. 2 seed Kelsey Dieters also took on a player from Ball State. Dieters had very little struggle in the first set against Kristel Sanders, but was challenged in the second set. She fought hard to win the match, 6-4, and will advance to the next round.
No. 12 seed Aldila Sutjiadi will proceed to the next round after cruising past Xavier’s Danielle Patton, 6-2 in both sets to win the match. Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff and Caitlin McGraw both had success in their singles draw matches and will continue through to the next round.
“Even though we didn’t all have the best day, we fought really hard and worked with what we had,” McGraw said.
Stephanie Fox who won in the qualifying rounds Saturday, fell to Sydney Campbell from Vanderbilt and Kirsten Lewis fell in her match against Christine Guerrazzi from Miami (OH). Fox and Lewis will participate in back draw singles on Sunday.
In main draw doubles No. 2 seed McGraw and Ravita, as well as Dieters and Cece Witten advanced to the third round after two strong rounds of play. The two UK duos will go head-to-head with each other to compete for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I’m really happy with the way everyone competed throughout a tough day,” Witten said. “ We all left it on the court today.”
No. 8 seed Morin-Kougoucheff and Sutjiadi fell in their match against Memphis’ Stefanie Mikesz and Anki Wind, but won in the first round of back draw doubles. Fox and Lewis lost to Joanna Henderson and Caitlyn Williams from Tennessee but advanced to the second of back draw doubles.
Action will continue for the Wildcats tomorrow beginning at 9 a.m. ET.
