Kentucky Women’s Tennis Downs Notre Dame 6-1
LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the first time since 2009, the University of Kentucky women’s tennis team concluded the nonconference schedule without dropping a dual match after it defeated Notre Dame in a 6-1 decision on Saturday, Feb. 6 inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Wildcats improved to 8-0 with the win, their best start since going 9-0 in 2009.
The Wildcats own a 16-0 doubles record and a 44-4 singles record after its 6-1 cruise over the Fighting Irish. UK began the dual match by clinching the doubles point for the eighth straight time this season, earning a couple of wins on courts Nos. 2 and 3.
On the second court, Carla Girbau and Elizabeth Stevens defeated Julia Lilien and Julia Andreach in a 6-2 decision. On the third court, No. 57 Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkachenko defeated Meghan Coleman and Ally Bojczuk in a 6-4 decision. Meanwhile, on the first court, Akvile Paražinskaite and Fiona Arrese held a 6-5 lead over the 19th-best doubles team in the nation, Cameron Corse and Page Freeman, before it retired.
Tkachenko made her first doubles appearance this season against Notre Dame, and she quickly fell back into her winning ways. Just last spring, she and Jacobs owned an 8-1 record paired together, including a perfect 4-0 record in the Southeastern Conference, before the season abruptly ended because of the COVID-19 public-health threat. The duo was named the 57th-best doubles team in the nation in preseason polls, before making their first appearance together against the Fighting Irish.
Setting the pace in the singles competition, Carlota Molina finished her match first, earning a 7-6, 7-5 decision over Page Freeman on court No. 2. Akvile Paražinskaite followed suit, coming from behind to earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 decision over Cameron Corse on court No. 1.
Notre Dame snagged the next singles triumph, as Fighting Irish Ally Bojcuk rallied a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 outcome over Elizabeth Stevens on the third court. It helped Notre Dame to its first point of the dual match, while Kentucky led 3-1 with three singles matches yet to be decided.
Notre Dame’s brief momentum wasn’t enough to pass Kentucky, as Lesedi Jacobs locked up the fourth court with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 finish over Julia Andreach.
The dual match continued with a pair of unique matches on courts Nos. 5 and 6. Carla Girbau defeated Maeve Koscielski, 8-5, while Fiona Arrese defeated Julia Lilien, 10-6.
In Kentucky’s next appearance, it will host RV Texas A&M on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. ET inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center for its SEC opener.
Kentucky 6, Notre Dame 1
February 6, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. Cameron Corse (ND) 3-6, 6-1, 7-5
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Page Freeman (ND) 7-6 (9-7), 7-5
3. Ally Bojczuk (ND) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
4. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Julia Andreach (ND) 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-2
5. Carla Girbau (UK) def. Maeve Koscielski (ND) 8-5
6. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Julia Lilien (ND) 10-6
Doubles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) vs. #19 Cameron Corse/Page Freeman (ND) 6-5, unfinished
2. Elizabeth Stevens/Carla Girbau (UK) def. Julia Lilien/Julia Andreach (ND) 6-2
3. #57 Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Meghan Coleman/Ally Bojczuk (ND) 6-4
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.
