Road Test Aced: Cats Cruise Past No. 23 Razorbacks
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team hit the road for the first time this season, going 2-0 during the third week of Southeastern Conference action. On Sunday afternoon, Kentucky earned its first ranked triumph of the season, cruising past No. 23 Arkansas in a 4-1 decision in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at the Billinglsey Tennis Center.
The Wildcats improved to an 11-2 record, including a 3-2 mark in the league and 2-0 mark on the road. Kentucky got off to a prosperous start against Akransas, after earning its 12th doubles point of the season.
Carla Girbau and Elizabeth Stevens defeated Morgan Cross and Indianna Spink in a 6-2 decision on the second court. Akvile Paražinskaite and Fiona Arrese followed, creeping past Lauren Alter and Tatum Rice in a 6-4 decision on the first court.
The dominant duo in Paražinskaite and Arrese improved to a 10-0 record, the best record of any doubles team in the conference this season, while the pair has competed all of its matches on the first court.
The momentum stretched into the singles competition, as Stevens defeated Razorback’s Alter in a 6-4, 6-0 outcome on the fifth court. The rookie from Oregon is off to a hot start in Kentucky’s three-match road stretch, earning back-to-back wins against her conference opponents on the weekend.
Paražinskaite stretched UK’s lead to 3-0, after the veteran defeated Indianna Spink in a 6-3, 6-3 outcome on the first court. The graduate student moved to an impressive 12-1 record on the No. 1 singles court this season. Right after that, Carla Girbau lost on the fourth court to Morgan Cross in a 6-1, 6-3 outcome.
Lesedi Jacobs rallied the fourth point for the Wildcats, defeating Tatum Rice in a 6-3, 6-3 battle on the third court to secure the win.
In its next appearance, Kentucky will conclude it’s road stretch at No. 9 Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, March 14 at 2 p.m. ET.
Kentucky 4, No. 23 Arkansas 1
March 5, 2021
Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center
Lexington, Ky.
Singles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. Indianna Spink (AR) 6-3, 6-3
2. Kelly Keller (AR) vs. Carlota Molina (UK) 2-6, 6-1, 3-0, unfinished
3. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Tatum Rice (AR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Morgan Cross (AR) def. Carla Girbau (UK) 6-1, 6-3
5. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Lauren Alter (AR) 6-4, 6-0
6. Laura Rijkers (AR) vs. Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) 3-6, 6-2, 2-0, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Akvile Parazinskaite/Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Lauren Alter/Tatum Rice (AR) 6-4
2. Carla Girbau/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Morgan Cross/Indianna Spink (AR) 6-2
3. Laura Rijkers/Kelly Keller (AR) vs. Lesedi Jacobs/Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) 5-4, unfinished
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.
