March 7, 2014
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Senior Caitlin McGraw and freshman Aldila Sutjiadi’s wins in singles weren’t enough to lift the No. 22 University of Kentucky women’s tennis team to victory when they faced off with No. 4 Texas A&M on March 7 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College station, Texas. The Wildcats fell to the Aggies, 4-2, and suffered their first Southeastern Conference loss.
“There are a lot of positives to take from our match against Texas A&M,” Kentucky head coach Carlos Drada said. “We played against a very experienced team and came short in a couple of points.”
Kentucky got behind early, dropping the doubles point. Sutjiadi and sophomore, Nadia Ravita, dropped their first doubles match of the season to Ines Deheza and Saska Gavrilovska, 8-2, at the No. 2 doubles position. McGraw and senior doubles partner, Cece Witten, also received their first loss of the season at No. 1 doubles. Cristina Stancu and Stefania Hristov defeated the pair, 8-4, and clinched the point for the Aggies.
McGraw and Sutjiadi both claimed wins over Texas A&M in singles play. McGraw won in decisive fashion against Jana McCord at the No. 6 single slot. Sutjiadi took on Deheza at the No. 2 singles spot and won, 7-5, 6-2. No. 51 Ravita forced a third set tie-break in her match at No. 1 singles, but ultimately fell to No. 15 Stancu, 6-2, 7-5, 6-0. Stancu’s win claimed the match for the Aggies.
The Wildcats fall to 12-3 (2-1 SEC), but hope to bounce back in their match against Missouri on March 9 at the Mizzou Tennis Center.
“We are looking forward to our match against Missouri and are eager to improve,” Drada said.
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