UK Women’s Tennis Records a 12-2 Mark at Home This Season, Defeating Mississippi State on Senior Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team ended its regular-season home slate in victorious fashion, defeating Mississippi State on Sunday by a 4-2 decision. The Wildcats recorded a 12-2 mark at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center this season, and improve to a 17-5 overall record (Southeastern Conference 7-4).
Two doubles courts finished in UK’s favor to help claim an early lead – Nos. 1 & 3. Senior Justina Mikulskyte and redshirt-junior Akvile Paražinskaite, the 18th-ranked doubles team in the nation, carded a 6-1 victory on the first court, defeating No. 57 Magda Adaloglou and Tamara Racine. In the process, Mikulskyte and Paražinskaite improved their unbeaten mark against nationally-ranked opponents to 7-0.
On court two, freshman Tiphanie Fiquet and junior Diana Tkachenko dropped in a 6-1 outcome to Mississippi State’s Emma Antonaki and Anastasia Rentouli. However, redshirt-sophomore Lesedi Jacobs and junior Anastasia Tkachenko rallied a 6-3 mark on the third court to collect the doubles point. Jacobs and A. Tkachenko have proven their compatibility as of recent. Head coach Carlos Drada paired them together for the first time this season just nine days ago and the doubles team already boasts a 3-0 mark.
In singles, No. 16 Mikulskyte handled business in her last match at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Lithuania native recorded a 6-3, 6-2 decision on court No. 1, defeating No. 67 Emma Antonaki. Mikulskyte moves to a 7-2 mark over nationally-ranked singles opponents and a 13-4 overall mark in singles this season.
Paražinskaite followed the act, carding a 6-3, 6-3 win on court four, defeating Bulldogs’ Racine. With the Wildcats boasting a 3-0 lead, Mississippi State then rallied back-to-back wins on courts Nos. 2 & 3. Rentouli defeated Jacobs on court two, 6-2, 6-4. Then, Bulldog Adalogou defeated Fiquet on court three, 6-4, 6-3. While both Tkachenko sisters battled on courts five and six to end the dual match, it was D. Tkachenko that sealed the deal on court No. 5, posting a 6-4, 6-3 final score to give Kentucky the 4-2 advantage over Mississippi State.
In its next appearance, the Kentucky women’s tennis team will travel to Athens, Georgia, to meet No.1-ranked Georgia on April 12. The Wildcats will end their regular season in Knoxville, Tennessee, facing No. 17 Tennessee on April 14. The Southeastern Conference Tournament will follow on April 17-21 in College Station, Texas.
For more on Kentucky men’s tennis, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram, Kentucky Women’s Tennis on Facebook, or on the web at UKathletics.com.
