Paražinskaite Defeats 41st-Ranked Singles Player, Kentucky Drops to No. 23 LSU
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team dropped its first contest of the season on Saturday, Feb. 20, losing to No. 23 LSU in a 4-3 decision inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Wildcats are 8-1 with the loss, and 0-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
The Wildcats own an 18-1 doubles record and a 46-8 singles record after its loss in the conference opener. UK began the dual match by clinching the doubles point for the ninth straight time this season, earning a couple of wins on courts Nos. 1 and 2.
On the first court, Akvile Paražinskaite and Fiona Arrese defeated Eden Richardson and Nina Geissler in a 7-5 decision. On the second court, Carla Girbau and Elizabeth Stevens beat Maggie Cubitt and Safiya Carrington in a 7-6 (3) decision. Both doubles teams are undefeated this season, as Paražinskaite and Molina are 6-0 and Girbau and Stevens move to 2-0.
Before that, No. 57 Lesedi Jacobs and Anastasia Tkachenko fell to Paris Corley and Taylor Bridges in a 6-4 battle on the third court.
Molina lost the first singles match, falling to No. 83 Carrington in a 6-4, 6-3 final mark. However, Paražinskaite fought from behind to win the next singles match, defeating No. 41 Taylor Bridges in a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 race. It marked her first ranked singles meeting and win of the season, as the graduate student improved to 9-0 on the season.
On the third court, Stevens dropped to her foe Richardson in a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 defeat. But once again, Kentucky found hope in Jacobs, as the redshirt senior won on the fourth court, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, to help UK to a 3-2 lead in the match.
Kentucky would go on to lose its next two singles matches, ultimately falling to LSU, 4-3. Carla Girbau dropped to Maggie Cubitt on the fifth court, 6-4, 6-3. Then, Fiona Arrese dropped to Nina Geissler on the sixth court, 6-2, 6-3.
In Kentucky’s next appearance, it will host Alabama on Friday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. ET inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.
Kentucky 3, LSU 4
February 20, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. #41 Taylor Bridges (LSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. #83 Safiya Carrington (LSU) def. Carlota Molina (UK) 6-4, 6-3
3. Eden Richardson (LSU) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
4. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Paris Corley (LSU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
5. Maggie Cubitt (LSU) def. Carla Girbau (UK) 6-4, 6-3
6. Nina Geissler (LSU) def. Fiona Arrese (UK) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Eden Richardson/Nina Geissler (LSU) 7-5
2. Carla Girbau/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Maggie Cubitt/Safiya Carrington (LSU) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Paris Corley/Taylor Bridges (LSU) def. #57 Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) 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.
