Women’s Tennis Advances to Second Round of SEC Tournament
ATHENS, Ga. – 12-seeded Kentucky women’s tennis (9-14, 3-11 SEC) began Southeastern Conference Tournament play with a 4-1 victory over the 12-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-16, 1-12 SEC) at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga. on Wednesday afternoon.
The first-round tournament win advanced the Cats to Day Two where they will take on five-seed Auburn. This is the fifth consecutive year UK has advanced to the second round of the conference contest with the exception of the tournament’s cancellation in 2020.
Beginning the afternoon with doubles play, Kentucky claimed the point to have a 1-0 advantage for the first time since hosting Arkansas at the end of March. Zoe Hammond and Ellie Eades were the first to complete their matchup as they defeated MSU’s Chloe Cirott and Jayna Clemens, 6-2. Court 3 equalized doubles play as State’s Maria Rizzolo and Dharani Niroshan won 6-2 over Julia Zhu and Maialen Morante. However, Court 1 clinched the point for the Wildcats as the No. 56-ranked pair of Elizabeth Stevens and Makayla Mills took down Alexandra Mikhailuk and Athina Pitta, 6-2.
In singles play, Court 4 was the first to complete as Zhu defeated Pitta in two sets, 6-2, 6-1. She was followed by teammate Stevens who was victorious on Court 2 over Rizzolo, 6-1, 7-5. On Court 6, Mississippi State earned a point on the scoreboard as Clemens defeated Morante, 6-2, 6-1. The match was clinched on Court 3 as Eades came out on top, 6-3, 6-4, over Cirotte to advance Kentucky to the net round of the conference tournament.
The Wildcats will take on the Tigers at 6 p.m. EST on Thursday. Big Blue Nation can tune in live by clicking here.
RESULTS
SEC TOURNAMENT DAY 1: No. 12 Kentucky vs. No. 13 Mississippi State
UK 4, MSU 1
Doubles
#56 Makayla Mills/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Athina Pitta (MS) 6-4
Zoe Hammond/Ellie Eades (UK) def. Chloe Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MS) 6-2
Maria Rizzolo/Dharani Niroshan (MS) def. Maialen Morante/Julia Zhu (UK) 6-3
Singles
Zoe Hammond (UK) vs. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MS) 6-3, 3-6, unfinished
Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Maria Rizzolo (MS) 6-1, 7-5
Ellie Eades (UK) def. Chloe Cirotte (MS) 6-3, 6-4
Julia Zhu (UK) def. Athina Pitta (MS) 6-2, 6-1
Makayla Mills (UK) vs. Dharani Niroshan (MS) 6-3, 3-6, 2-2, unfinished
Jayna Clemens (MS) def. Maialen Morante (UK) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish:
Doubles— 2,3,1
Singles— 4,2,6,3
For the latest on UK Women’s Tennis, follow @UKWomensTennis on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
