Wildcats Defeat Miami (Ohio), Cincinnati in First Doubleheader of Season
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time since 2019, the University of Kentucky women’s tennis team began its season without dropping a doubles match, and dropping just one singles match, through its first four contests, as Kentucky defeated Miami (Ohio), 7-0, and Cincinnati, 6-1, during Tuesday’s doubleheader inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.
The Wildcats advanced to a 4-0 record this season, after defeating East Tennessee State, Memphis, Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati in a matter of just six days. Kentucky defeated the first three of those contests in a 7-0 sweep, while it dropped just one singles match to Cincinnati on Tuesday evening.
Kentucky boasts an 8-0 doubles record and a 23-1 singles record on the season, while UK sported the same doubles and singles lineup through both matches in the doubleheader.
Akvile Paražinskaite is pacing the group, owning a spotless 2-0 mark on the No. 1 doubles court and an unblemished 4-0 mark on the No. 1 singles court. After enduring a pair of three-set triumphs last week, the Lithuania native earned a pair of two-set triumphs in the doubleheader. She recorded a 7-5, 6-4 decision over Miami’s (Ohio) Brindtha Ramasamy, while she recorded a 6-1, 6-3 outcome over Cincinnati’s Ioana Guna.
Carlota Molina sports the same 2-0 doubles record and 4-0 singles record as Paražinskaite to start the season, rather recording all of her triumphs on court No. 2. This morning, she defeated Larua Rico of Miami (Ohio) in a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 decision, while this evening, she defeated Cassie McLay of Cincinnati in a 6-4, 6-4 outcome. Meanwhile, Molina and Carla Girbau earned their first doubles wins of the season, recording a 6-1 triumph over their Redhawk opponents and a 6-3 triumph over their Bearcat opponent, both on court No. 2.
On the third court, Girbau earned an impressive 6-3, 6-3 finish over Milana Lysova of Miami (Ohio), but dropped in an exhausting 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (1) contest to Maria Santillii of Cincinnati in a match that lasted for more than two hours. It marks the first point Kentucky has given up all season, while Girbau moves to 2-0 in doubles and 3-1 in singles.
Taking care of the fourth and fifth singles courts were a pair of flourishing freshmen.
On the fourth court, Fiona Arrese only gave up five total games in her final three sets of the doubleheader. The rookie defeated Redhawk Akenzie Myers in a 7-6 (6), 6-1 outcome on Tuesday morning, then defeated Bearcat Kim Gintrand in a 6-3, 6-1 triumph on Tuesday evening.
On the fifth court, Salsa Aher earned a 6-1, 6-2 win against Miami’s (Ohio) Lena Babunski and a 6-4, 7-5 win against Cincinnati’s Kelli Niehaus.
Both Arrese and Aher have had impressive career debuts, as the two newcomers own a 4-0 singles record between courts Nos. 4, 5 and 6. Aher also grabbed a couple of doubles wins today, paired with Lesedi Jacobs. The duo carded a pair of 6-1 outcomes over the Redhawks and Bearcats, respectively, improving to a 4-0 record on the third doubles court this season.
Despite coming off an injury incurred during her freshman season, Maialan Morante made her season debut this morning. The sophomore rallied a 2-0 singles record to begin the 2020 schedule, forcing a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Miami’s (Ohio) Sofia Zaprianov and a 6-0, 6-4 decision over Cincinnati’s Anna Philp.
In its next appearance, Kentucky will host Middle Tennessee and Marshall for its final doubleheader of the season on Thursday, January 28 inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The first serve against MTSU will take place at 10 a.m. ET, while the first serve against Marshall is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Kentucky 7, Miami (Ohio) 0
January 26, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. BRINDTHA RAMASAMY (MIAMI) 7-5, 6-4
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. LAURA RICO (MIAMI) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2
3. Carla Girbau (UK) def. MILANA LYSOVA (MIAMI) 6-3, 6-3
4. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. AKENZIE MYERS (MIAMI) 7-6 (7-6), 6-1
5. Salsa Aher (UK) def. LENA BABUNSKI (MIAMI) 6-1, 6-2
6. Maialen Morante (UK) def. SOFIA ZAPRIANOV (MIAMI) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) vs. BRINDTHA RAMASAMY/LAURA RICO (MIAMI) 4-4, unfinished
2. Carla Girbau/Carlota Molina (UK) def. MILANA LYSOVA/SOFIA ZAPRIANOV (MIAMI) 6-1
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Salsa Aher (UK) def. MELATI DEVI/AKENZIE MYERS (MIAMI) 6-1
Kentucky 6, Cincinnati 1
January 26, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-1, 6-3
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Cassie McLay (CIN) 6-4, 6-4
3. Maria Santilli (CIN) def. Carla Girbau (UK) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Kim Gintrand (CIN) 6-3, 6-1
5. Salsa Aher (UK) def. Kelli Niehaus (CIN) 6-4, 7-5
6. Maialen Morante (UK) def. Anna Philp (CIN) 6-0, 6-4
Doubles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) vs. Alexia Countino/Cassie McLay (CIN) 5-6, unfinished
2. Carla Girbau/Carlota Molina (UK) def. Kim Gintrand/Ioana Guna (CIN) 6-3
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Salsa Aher (UK) def. Kelli Niehaus/Anna Philp (CIN) 6-1
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.
