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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The women’s tennis team (9-10, 3-8 SEC) drops a match to No. 15 Texas 4-2 on Sunday at the Boone Tennis Center. The Wildcats attempted the comeback after being down 3-0, but came up short in play that was highlighted by sophomore Julia Zhu’s win over Texas’ No. 20 Carmen Herea.
Texas took the lead in doubles play, with wins on court one and three. The Longhorns pair of Ashton Bowers and Ariana Pursoo defeated fifth-year Lizzy Stevens and Ellie Eades, and Texas’ Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz and Salma Drugdova beat Zhu and Ellie Myers.
Down 1-0, the Wildcats looked to battle back in singles to win the match. However, the Longhorns continued to apply pressure taking court three against Stevens 6-1, 6-1 and court four against freshman Tess Bucher 7-5, 6-4. With Texas up 3-0, No. 95 Zhu provided the needed spark defeating No. 20 Herea 6-4, 6-4 in dominating fashion. Hammond battled against Bowers for nearly three hours, ultimately winning a point 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 for the Cats and bringing them within one. It was singles five and six that decided the match, with Texas clinching the match on five 6-2, 6-3 over Jadue.
Kentucky looks to move onto their last home matches this upcoming weekend, taking the fight and toughness they displayed on Sunday into the remainder of SEC play.
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