Kentucky Women’s Tennis Sweeps Memphis, 7-0
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team earned its second straight triumph, defeating Memphis in a 7-0 sweep on Friday, January 22 inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Wildcats improved to a 2-0 mark to begin the new season, including a flawless 12-0 singles record and an unblemished 4-0 doubles record.
Kentucky sported a slightly adjusted singles and doubles lineup on Friday morning, proving just as successful as the first.
In the doubles competition, Lesedi Jacobs and Salsa Aher set the tone for the rest of the dual match, earning a spotless six games to love on the third court. The duo was the first tandem to close out its match yesterday and today, doing so today without dropping a game. Moments later, Akvile Paražinskaite and Fiona Arrese completed a 6-2 contest on the first doubles court, helping Kentucky to the first point of the dual match and a 1-0 lead over Memphis ahead of the singles competition.
Jacobs, a redshirt senior, continued her dominate stride during singles action, earning a 6-2, 6-1 outcome on the third court over Tiger Alisha Reayer. Jacobs, who didn’t compete in the singles competition in the season opener, helped UK take a 2-0 lead in the dual match with her quick singles triumph. She is now 1-0 in singles action and 2-0 in doubles action this season (paired with Aher).
Girbau followed close behind, earning a 6-4, 6-2 mark on the fourth court, defeating Memphis standout Laura Bente. Subsequently, Paražinskaite handled Sophie Abrams on the first court, forcing a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 decision to push Kentucky to a 4-0 lead over Memphis, which guaranteed a win over the Tigers. Both Girbau and Paražinskaite improved to 2-0 record in singles action this season, while Paražinskaite also improved to 2-0 record in doubles action (paired with Arrese).
Carlota Molina finished out a taxing contest on the second court, as the sophomore rallied a 7-5, 6-2 triumph over Memphis’ No. 2, Aran Teixido Garcia. The sophomore is now 2-0 in singles action to begin the new season.
Meanwhile, Arrese was ahead on the fifth court after crafting a 6-4 first-set triumph over Camila Soares, before the Tiger retired with a medical excuse. Thus, Arrese became the winner of that match by default. The freshman moved to 2-0 in both singles and in doubles (paired with Paražinskaite).
Closing out the dual match without hassle was Salsa Aher on the sixth court, as the rookie rallied a 6-3, 6-3 judgement over Tiger Monique Woog. The freshman is also 2-0 in both singles and in doubles this season.
The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team will compete in its next match on Tuesday, January 26, contending in a doubleheader against Miami (Ohio) at 10 a.m. ET and Cincinnati at 3 p.m. ET. Both contests will take place inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center, and admission is free to attend.
Kentucky 7, Memphis 0
January 22, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. Sophie Abrams (MU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Aran Teixido Garcia (MU) 7-5, 6-2
3. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Alisha Reayer (MU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Carla Girbau (UK) def. Laura Bente (MU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Camila Soares (MU) 6-4, retired
6. Salsa Aher (UK) def. Monique Woog (MU) 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Katherine Cao/Aran Teixido Garcia (MU) 6-2
2. Carlota Molina/Carla Girbau (UK) vs. Josephine Cao/Sophie Abrams (MU) 1-5, unfinished
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Salsa Aher (UK) def. Alisha Reayer/Laura Bente (MU) 6-0
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.
