Kentucky Suffers Setback at Alabama in Conference Opener
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 28 Kentucky women’s tennis team suffered a setback on Friday evening in Tuscaloosa after dropping a 4-0 decision to No. 41 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference opener. Following the loss, the Wildcats fall to 11-2 (0-1) on the season while the Crimson Tide improve to 11-3 (1-0).
Alabama began the match by earning the doubles point, marking just the third time all season Kentucky has lost the opening point. Kasia Pitak and Ola Pitak first defeated Lidia Gonzalez and Carlota Molina, 6-1, on court three before Petra Sedlackova and Anna Parkhomenko topped Carla Girbau and Ellie Eades, 7-5, in the second spot.
The home team then jumped out to a three-point lead when No. 124 Petra Sedlackova bested Fiona Arrese in a 6-2, 6-1 outcome on the third court to begin singles play. Hiser then won her singles match against Gonzalez, 6-3, 6-4, on court five.
The Crimson Tide then made it a 4-0 sweep over the Wildcats when Loudmilla Benchiekh posted a 7-6, 6-1 win over Girbau on court one.
The Wildcats will look to rebound on Sunday, March 6 with a trip to Auburn to continue SEC play. The match with the Tigers will commence at 12 p.m. ET at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
No. 41 Alabama 4, No. 28 Kentucky 0
Singles
1. Loudmilla Bencheikh (UA) def. No. 89 Carla Girbau (UK) 7-6(5), 6-1
2. Carlota Molina (UK) vs. Ola Pitak (UA) Unfinished
3. No. 124 Petra Sedlackova (UA) def. Fiona Arrese (UK) 6-2, 6-1
4. Florencia Urrutia (UK) vs. Anna Parkhomenko (UA) Unfinished
5. Anne Marie Hiser (UA) def. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) 6-3, 6-4
6. Ellie Eades (UK) vs. Kasia Pitak (UA) Unfinished
Order of finish: 3, 5, 1*
Doubles
1. No. 60 Fiona Arrese/Florencia Urrutia (UK) vs. No. 33 Anne Marie Hiser/Loudmilla Bencheikh (UA) Unfinished
2. Petra Sedlackova/Anna Parkhomenko (UA) def. Carla Girbau/Ellie Eades (UK) 7-5
3. Kasia Pitak/Ola Pitak (UA) def. Lidia Gonzalez/Carlota Molina (UK) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2*
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
