The Kentucky women’s tennis team narrowly lost to No. 28 Alabama, falling 4-3 in a Southeastern Conference match on Thursday evening at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Tennis Facility in Tuscaloosa. The Wildcats now hold an 8-3 overall record and are 0-2 in SEC play.
Kentucky began the match by securing the doubles point. Ellie Myers and Marina Fuduric defeated Amina Salibayeva and Addison Bowman 6-1 on court three. Julia Zhu and Zoe Hammond were beaten by Kristina Paskauskas and Karla Bartel 2-6 on court one, leaving the deciding point to court two. Asuncion Jadue and Reese Sager clinched it for Kentucky with a close 7-6 win over Klara Milicevic and Maria Andrienko.
In singles competition, Zoe Hammond gave Kentucky a quick lead with a straight-set victory (6-1, 6-1) on court two. However, Alabama responded as Karla Bartel beat Asuncion Jadue (6-2, 6-1) on court four. Julia Zhu then extended Kentucky’s lead to 3-1 by defeating Kristina Paskauskas (7-6, 6-1) on court one.
Alabama rallied by winning the next two matches in three sets: Amina Salibayeva overcame Donna Le Roux (5-7, 6-2, 6-0), while Maria Andrienko outlasted Reese Sager (6-2, 4-6, 6-2). With the score tied at three apiece, Elena Molla pushed Addison Bowman to a third set but ultimately fell short as Bowman won the final set 6-2 to secure Alabama’s victory.
Kentucky will conclude its three-match road stretch against Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday before returning home.
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Doubles Results
1. Paskauskas/Bartel (ALA) def. Zhu/Hammond (UK) 6-2
2. Jadue/Sager (UK) def. Milicevic/Andrienko (ALA) 7-6
3. Myers/Fuduric (UK) def. Salibayeva/Bowman (ALA) 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
Singles Results
1. Julia Zhu (UK) def. Kristina Paskauskas (ALA) 7-6, 6-1
2. Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Klara Milicevic (ALA) 6-1, 6-1
3. Maria Andrienko (ALA) def. Reese Sager (UK) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
4. Karla Bartel (ALA) def. Asuncion Jadue (UK) 6-2, 6-1
5. Addison Bowman (ALA) def. Elena Molla (UK) 7-6, 3-6, 6-2
6. Amina Salibayeva (ALA) def. Donna Le Roux (UK) 5–7, 6–2, 6–0
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 6, 3 ,5
