rewrite this content and keep HTML tags
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s tennis (8-5, 0-4 SEC) returned to the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex after a long streak of matches on the road, but fell to just short 4-3 to No. 71 Arkansas (10-4, 1-3 SEC). That was the Wildcats first loss at home after a winning streak of 6-0 at the Boone. Up next they are set to play No. 19 Oklahoma (10-4, 1-2 SEC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
To start off doubles play, the court two pair of Asuncion Jadue and Reese Sager fell to Arkansas’ Brooke Schafer and Jimena Gomez. On court three, Arkansas’ pair Alex Panagiotidou and Arina Babenko secured the doubles point over Ellie Myers & Marina Fuduric. The match on court one, Zoe Hammond and Julia Zhu vs. Arkansas’ No. 22 pair Anet Koskel/Caronlina Gomez was left unfinished.
The Wildcats trailing 1-0 heading into singles play, senior Zoe Hammond took over on court one and defeated Arkansas’ Brooke Schafer in a near sweep 6-0, 6-2. On court five, a stellar performance came from Freshman Elena Molla, who fought back in the second set by winning five straight games after being down 4-1, and defeated Arkansas’ Arina Babenko 6-3, 6-4, giving the Wildcats the 2-1 lead.
Another freshman win came from Reese Sager, who battled it out in a first set tie breaker and went on to defeat her opponent 7-6(4), 6-3, putting Kentucky in the lead 3-1. Ellie Myers dropped a match in straight sets on court six, with Arkansas creeping back up 3-2. On court four, Arkansas’ Alexandra Panagiotidou defeated Asuncion Jadue to tie up the match 3-3. To end the match, Arkansas’ No. 23 Carolina Gomez defeated No. 112 Zhu in a match of extended rallies and tight points, 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.
The Wildcats (8-5, 0-4 SEC) now look toward their second home conference match this weekend against No. 19 Oklahoma on Sunday. The match on Sunday will be free admission, but fans that cannot attend are encouraged to follow the live results via StatBroadcast and the live stream on UKAthletics.com
For the latest on UK Women’s Tennis, follow @UKWomensTennis on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Doubles Results:
No. 22 Carolina Gomez Alonso/Anet Koskel (ARK) def. Zoe Hammond/Julia Zhu (UK),
Brooke Schafer/Jimena Gomez Alonso (ARK) def. Asuncion Jadue/Reese Sager vs. (UK), 6-0
Marina Fuduric/Ellie Myers (UK) vs. Alex Panagiotidou/Arina Babenko (ARK)
Order of finish: 2, 3
Singles Results:
No. 23 Carolina Gomez (ARK) def. No. 112 Julia Zhu (UK) 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
No. 119 Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Brooke Schafer (ARK) 6-0, 6-2
Reese Sager (UK) def. Anet Koskel (ARK) 7-6(4), 6-3
Alex Panagiotidou (ARK) def. Asuncion Jadue (UK) 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-1
Elena Molla (UK) def. Arina Babenko (ARK) 6-3, 6-4
Jimena Gomez (ARK) def. Ellie Myers (UK) 6-3, 6-3
Order of finish: 2, 5, 3, 6, 4, 1
