The women’s tennis team was dominant at home yet again, improving to 5-0 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex this season with two wins against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday 4-0, 4-0. This puts the Wildcats at a record of 5-1, giving great momentum for the team as they continue with the rest of the season.
The doubleheader began with strong doubles play from the Wildcats. Sophomore Julia Zhu, paired with freshman Asuncion Jadue, picked up a convincing win 6-1 on court two. Over on court one, senior Ellie Eades and fifth-year Lizzy Stevens clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory over EKU’s Masha Fedenko and Anastasiia Cherniakova.
Moving to singles, junior Ellie Meyers started off hot on court four. Winning the first set 6-0, Myers went on to continue to dominate the second set, winning 6-2 against Marilou Cote. On court three, Zhu won in the same persuasive fashion, 6-2, 6-0. Zoe Hammond clinched the match on court one over Mariia Fedenko with a 6-1, 6-2 statement victory.
Deciding to get into play a little earlier than expected, the Wildcats continued what they had started in match one of the day. Match two doubles featured the same pairings for Kentucky, with Eades and Stevens winning, once again, 6-1. This continues Stevens undefeated record in doubles matches this season. Over on court two, Hammond and Bucher got it done 6-2 against the Colonels’ Cote and Ceylin Ipek, which gave the doubles point to the Wildcats once again.
In the second match, coaches decided to start singles play with the number three, four, five, and six matchups. To start off singles play in match two, Bucher pulled off a win against Cherniakova 6-2, 6-2. Playing in the fifth slot, Myers had a huge showing in an impressive performance winning 6-0, 6-1 and marking her second dominant win of the day. Clinching the match in her first singles action of the day, Jadue showed out against Anastasiia Bakytzhan in a 6-3, battle. With the clinch, Bucher pulled off a win against Cherniakova 6-2,6-2.
The impressive wins bring the Wildcats to a 5-1 record on the season, continuing their unbeaten home record. They look to continue their winning momentum in Kansas next weekend, as they take on Wichita State on Friday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. and Kansas State on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m.
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