No. 21 Jacobs, Parazinskaite Back on Scene, Win First Doubles Match of Season
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team defeated Northern Kentucky, 5-2, and Kennesaw State, 7-0, in a doubleheader home opener at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center on Friday, Jan. 17, advancing to a 3-0 mark this season and 2-0 on its home court.
The 21st-best doubles team in the nation made its first appearance of the decade, as Lesedi Jacobs and Akvile Paražinskaite took the court for the first time together this season after recovering from minor injuries since the fall. The distinguished duo recorded a 6-2 triumph over Kennesaw State’s Taylor Dean and Paola Cortez, competing on the first court.
The duo, now 1-0 in the regular season, recorded 10 straight wins together in the preseason and reached as far as the second round at the International Tennis Association Fall Nationals. The tandem boasts an 11-1 record overall through the fall and spring sessions.
The successful doubles team is just as powerful in singles as they are in doubles. Jacobs, the 59th-best singles player in the nation, rallied a 6-1, 6-0 win on her own, defeating Owl Paola Cortez on the second singles court. Paražinskaite tabbed a pair of wins over NKU’s Margita Sunjic (0-6, 6-1, 6-2) and KSU’s Taylor Dean (6-4, 6-3).
Both Wildcats are 2-0 in singles this season.
Two Spanish newcomers are quickly rising to the top of Kentucky’s singles lineup after undefeated starts to the spring slate. Freshman Carlota Molina of Gran Canaria, Spain, claimed a pair of singles wins on Friday, defeating Maria Koo of NKU in a 6-1, 6-1 charge and Tina Vlajic of KSU in a 6-2, 6-2 decision.
Sophomore and Miami (Fla.) transfer Carla Girbau gave up just two singles games in two matches on Friday. The Barcelona native defeated Northern Kentucky’s Elizabeth Rozin 6-0, 6-1 Friday morning and Kennesaw State’s Paola Cortez 6-1, 6-0 in the afternoon session.
Both newcomers are 3-0 in singles this season, leading the team.
The full results can be found here.
Next on the Schedule
The Kentucky women’s tennis team will play host to Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m. ET and 5 p.m., respectively. All home matches are played at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center and are free to attend. Free parking options include the three small E-lots adjacent to the facility one hour prior to first serve. Spectators may also pay to park in the Sports Center Garage (PS No. 7) on the corner of Complex Drive and Sport Center Drive. The cost of parking is $2 per hour, with a $16 per exit maximum.
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.
