Kentucky Falls to No. 12 Georgia in SEC Tournament Second Round
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – 11th-seeded Kentucky (17-13, 5-9 SEC) was eliminated in the SEC Tournament Second Round, falling to sixth-seeded No. 12 Georgia (18-7, 9-5 SEC) in a tight, 4-2 contest.
The Bulldogs were able to take the victory with points from doubles and courts two, five, and six in singles. Seniors Jaden Weekes and Charlelie Cosnet scored points for the Wildcats with wins on singles courts three and four.
Georgia was able to jump out to the lead with a fairly comfortable doubles point. Will Jansen and Gabrielle Vulpitta earned the first win for the Bulldogs, defeating Weekes and Martin Breysach, 6-2, on court two. The Bulldogs clinched the point on court one, as No. 12 Arda Azkara and Santiago Giamichelle defeated No. 17 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson, 6-4.
In singles, Kentucky was slow to respond, only claiming two of six first sets. However, for the second day in a row, Weekes was able to breeze through his court three match, earning a fairly comfortable 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Georgia reclaimed its lead on court six, as Vulpitta took a pair of tight sets off Matt Rankin, 6-4, 6-4.
The remaining four courts would end up in deciding sets, matching the amount of third frames from the two team’s regular season meeting. However, Georgia was able to prevail in two of the four to take the win.
No. 82 Loutit rebounded from a tough first frame, winning six of seven games in the second frame. However, an early break of serve proved to be the difference, as Noah Johnston held serve for the entire set, claiming a 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 win.
No. 114 Cosnet was able to move the Wildcats within one point at 3-2, delivering a come-from-behind effort over Derrick Chen on court four. Cosnet buckled down with a late break in set two before cruising through the final frame for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory.
The Bulldogs would clinch the match on court two, as No. 42 Jansen defeated No. 54 Nicolas Arseneault for the second time this season. Arseneault was able to claim the opening frame in a tiebreaker, but a late break of serve in the second frame sent the match into a decider. In the third, Jansen found a break midway through the set, a difference that would hold despite break point chances for Arseneault, and sealed the 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 win.
On court one, No. 21 Stephenson was leading No. 40 Azkara, 2-6, 6-3, 4-3, when play concluded.
Kentucky will await its NCAA Tournament fate until the Selection Show on Monday, April 27.
For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.
Kentucky vs. No. 12 Georgia
Doubles Results
- No. 12 Azkara/Giamichelle (UGA) def. No. 17 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) 6-4
- Jansen/Vulpitta (UGA) def. Breysach/Weekes (UK) 6-2
- No. 90 Rankin/N. Arseneault (UK) vs. Chen/Johnston (UGA) 3-5 (unfinished)
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles Results
- No. 21 Eli Stephenson (UK) vs. No. 40 Arda Azkara (UGA) 2-6, 6-3, 4-3 (unfinished)
- No. 42 Will Jansen (UGA) def. No. 54 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3
- Jaden Weekes (UK) def. No. 101 Santiago Giamichelle (UGA) 6-2, 6-3
- No. 114 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Derrick Chen (UGA) 4-6, 7-5, 6-1
- Noah Johsnton (UGA) def. No. 82 Jack Loutit (UK) 6-0, 1-6, 6-3
- Gabrielle Vulpitta (UGA) def. Matt Rankin (UK) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 6, 5, 4, 2
