Drada Eclipses 200 Wins, Kentucky Defeats Miami (Ohio), Cincinnati
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Helping Carlos Drada reach his 200th win as a head coach, the University of Kentucky women’s tennis team defeated Miami (Ohio), 6-1, and Cincinnati, 5-2, in a doubleheader at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center on Tuesday. The Wildcats improve to a 5-0 record this season and a 4-0 mark at home.
Drada reached his 200th win Tuesday afternoon as Kentucky defeated Miami (Ohio) in a 6-1 decision, the first of two matches in the doubleheader. Beginning his 15th season leading the program, Drada is the winningest head coach in Kentucky women’s tennis history with a 201-169 record.
“I am grateful to be in this position,” Drada said. “I am honored to be the steward of a first-class program and under the guidance of a first-class leader. I am elated that I shared this milestone with such a beautiful group of powerful women who are buying into Kentucky’s vision. I’m also aware that all of the former coaches and players of this program deserve to be a part of this honor. I want to acknowledge everyone who has bled blue since the program’s inception and has made it possible for me to stand in this position. Go Cats!”
Helping Drada reach his successful mark Tuesday afternoon, freshman Carlota Molina took complete control over her singles match against Miami (Ohio) and gave the women’s team momentum to get past the RedHawks with a win.
The freshman from Gran Canaria, Spain, left her Miami (Ohio) opponent scoreless, earning a flawless 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Milana Lysova on the third court. Molina leads the nine-person team in singles winning percentage with a 9-1 record through the fall and spring sessions, and she boasts a 4-0 mark this season.
Sophomore Carla Girbau is also off to a hot start in the singles competition, featuring 5-0 record this season competing on the Nos. 3 and 4 courts. Girbau, a Miami (Fla.) transfer, added a pair of singles wins to her resume in the doubleheader, defeating Melati Devi of Miami (Ohio) in a 6-2, 6-0 decision and Alexia Coutino of Cincinnati in a 6-0, 6-2 choice.
While the Wildcats boast a 23-7 mark (.767) in the singles competition this season, they shine brighter in their doubles matches. The team has not given up a doubles point all season and have put together a 10-0 mark in doubles action through the first five matches.
Leading the charge is the 21st-best doubles team in the nation, as redshirt-junior Lesedi Jacobs and redshirt-senior Akvile Paražinskaite own a 3-0 record dual matches and a 13-1 mark overall throughout the fall and spring. On the second court, Girbau and senior Diana Tkachenko also boast a 3-0 mark in dual matches this season.
Next on the Schedule
The Kentucky women’s tennis team will compete in the International Tennis Association Kick-Off Weekend tournament Jan. 25-26. Hosted by Washington in Seattle, Washington, the Wildcats will face Southern California on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. ET and they’ll meet either Washington or Princeton on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. or 5 p.m.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and on Instagram, on Facebook and on the web at UKathletics.com.
