Wildcats Defeat Middle Tennessee State, Marshall in Second Doubleheader This Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women’s tennis team totaled two more wins on Thursday with victories over Middle Tennessee, 7-0, and Marshall, 5-2, inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. After wins over Miami (Ohio) and Cincinnati on Tuesday, the Wildcats have totaled four wins in a three-day span.
The Wildcats, who boast a 12-0 doubles record and a 33-3 singles record this season, are led by graduate student Akvile Paražinskaite who continues to be an anchor on court No. 1 in both singles and doubles. The Lithuania native currently owns a 4-0 doubles record and a 6-0 singles record after wins over MTSU and Marshall, respectively.
Against MSTU, she defeated Lee Barnard (6-1, 6-1) before a hard-fought win over Marshall’s Anna Smith (1-6, 6-4, 6-1). She also cruised to doubles wins on court No. 1 with partner, freshman Fiona Arrese, winning 6-0 vs. MTSU and 6-1 vs. Marshall, to get both matches off to a good start.
Sophomore Carlota Molina defeated Lidia Burrows of MTSU (6-3, 6-0) on court No. 2 and followed that with a win over Marshall’s Daniela Dankanych, (6-3, 6-0) to improve to 7-0 in singles.
On the third court,junior Carla Girbau earned a come-from-behind victory (4-6, 6-1, 6-2) against MTSU’s Muskan Gupta after dropping the first set. Girbau moved to court No. 4 in the second match against Marshall, continuing her winning ways (6-3, 6-0).
Redshirt senior Lesedi Jacobs subbed into court No. 3 in singles against Marshall but came up short vs. Madi Ballow in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-3). It marked her first loss of the season.
On singles court No. 4, Arrese improved to 6-0 on the season, defeating Zani Barnard of Middle Tennessee (6-3, 4-6, 6-0) before taking on Gabrielle Clairotte of Marshall (6-3, 6-1) on court No. 5.
On the fifth court against MSTU, freshman Salsa Aher earned a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 win against Noelle Mauro before suffering her first singles loss of the season vs. Madison Riley of Marshall (7-5,6-3) on court No. 6. Against MTSU, sophomore Maialen Morante took the sixth court and defeated Love-Star Alexis in a three-setter, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-5).
Completing doubles play was Jacobs and Aher with a 6-2 win over MTSU’s Mauro and Lilly-Sophie Schmidt. Against Marshall, Jacobs and Aher teamed up to defeat Madi Ballow and Riley, 6-2.
Kentucky returns to action Saturday, Jan. 30 when it plays host to Western Kentucky at 2 p.m. ET. It will no longer be a doubleheader as Xavier is unable to attend.
Kentucky 7, Middle Tennessee State 0
January 28, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1.Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. LEE BARNARD (MTSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. LIDIA BURROWS (MTSU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Carla Girbau (UK) def. MUSKAN GUPTA (MTSU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. ZANI BARNARD (MTSU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
5. Salsa Aher (UK) def. NOELLE MAURO (MTSU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
6. Maialen Morante (UK) def. LOVE-STAR ALEXIS (MTSU) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-5)
Doubles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) vs. ZANI BARNARD/MUSKAN GUPTA (MTSU) 6-0
2. Carla Girbau/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. LEE BARNARD/LIDIA BURROWS (MTSU) 4-2, unfinished
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Salsa Aher (UK) def. NOELLE MAURO/LILLY-SOPHIE SCHMIDT (MTSU) 6-2
Kentucky 5, Marshall 2
January 28, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. ANNA SMITH (MAR) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. DANIELA DANKANYCH (MAR) 6-3, 6-0
3. MADI BALLOW (MAR) def. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
4. Carla Girbau (UK) def. JUTTE VAN HANSEWYCK (MAR) 6-3, 6-0
5. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. GABRIELLE CLARIOTTE (MAR) 6-3, 6-1
6. MADISON RILEY (MAR) def. Salsa Aher (UK) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) vs. JUTTE VAN HANSEWYCK/LIZ STEFANCIC (MAR) 6-1
2. Carla Girbau/Carlota Molina (UK) def. DANIELA DANKANYCH/ANNA SMITH (MAR) 3-4, unfinished
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Salsa Aher (UK) def. MADI BALLOW/MADISON RILEY (MAR) 6-2
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.
