No. 44 UK Women's Tennis Knocks off No. 21 Rice at ITA Kickoff
Jan. 24, 2015
Evanston, Ill. – The No. 44 University of Kentucky women’s tennis team recorded a 4-0 upset win over No. 21 Rice in the first round of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kick-Off Weekend.
The Wildcats improve to 3-1 and hand Rice their first loss of the season. UK advances to play No. 32 Arizona State in the second round Sunday, with a chance to advance to the ITA National Indoor Championships in February
“I am proud of the way we competed against a well-coached and highly talented Rice team,” head coach Carlos Drada said. “At this level, it is imperative to fight for every point regardless of how we feel. Today our team was hungry and urgent. We look forward to a great match tomorrow.”
Senior Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff and junior Kirsten Lewis opened the match with a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles. The duo edged Stephanie Nguyen and Katherine Ip. Attention turned to senior Kelsey Dieters and Mami Adachi as they also came out victorious, winning their doubles match 6-2. Dieters and Adachi defeated Alison Ho and Solomiya Zinko to clinch the doubles point.
Kentucky’s Aldila Sutjiadi was the first to strike and add another point for the Wildcats, winning her match 6-3, 6-1 over Ip.
“I wasn’t playing my best tennis today, but I was competing really well, which helped me to improve my game,” Sutjiadi said. “I know if I play my game and stay in the present, I can win the match. I’m very excited for tomorrow, we have tough, but exciting match against Arizona State.”
Mami Adachi increased Kentucky’s lead over Rice to 3-0 after a 6-4, 6-1 win over Alison Ho in the No. 4 singles match.
Kelsey Dieters followed with a win of her own defeating Liat Zimmermann 6-4, 6-3. The Shelby TWP, Mich., native’s win clinched the 4-0 win for the Wildcats and completed the ITA Kickoff first-round upset.
“We have been preparing all week for the great opportunities at the ITA Kickoff Weekend, and we brought a lot of great energy today,” Dieters said. “I am so happy that I was able to contribute to our win over a highly-ranked opponent.”
The Wildcats and Sun Devils meet at 3 p.m. ET at the Combe Tennis Center in Evanston, Ill., tomorrow. Kentucky will look to advance to the ITA National Indoor Championships for the first time in program history.
No. 44 Kentucky 4, No. 21 Rice 0
Combe Tennis Center – Evanston, Ill.
January 24, 2014
Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 2*)
1 – #19 Nadia Ravita/Aldila Sutjiadi (UK) vs. Natalie Beazant/Liat Zimmerman (BU), 3-5, DNF
2 – Kelsey Dieters/Mami Adachi (UK) vs. Alison Ho/Solomiya Zinko (RU), 6-2
3 – Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff/Kirsten Lewis (UK) vs. Stephanie Nguyen/Katherine Ip (RU), 6-1
Singles (Order of finish: 2, 4, 3*)
1 – Nadia Ravita (UK) vs. #24 Natalie Beazant (RU), 6-7, 2-5, DNF
2 – #125 Aldila Sutjiadi (UK) def. Katherine Ip (RU), 6-3, 6-1
3 – Kelsey Dieters (UK) def. Liat Zimmerman (RU), 6-4, 6-3
4 – Mami Adachi (UK) def. Alison Ho (RU), 6-4, 6-1
5 – Kirsten Lewis (UK) vs. Savannah Durkin (RU), 6-4, 4-6, DNF
6 – Edmee Morin-Kougoucheff (UK) vs. Solomiya Zinko (RU), 6-7, 3-2, DNF
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky women’s tennis team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info, notes and behind-the-scenes updates, follow the team on Twitter at @UKWomensTennis.
