The No. 11 Kentucky women’s tennis team successfully eliminated No. 14 Mississippi State in the first round of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament on Wednesday. The match, which took place at the Billingsley Tennis Center, ended with a 4-1 victory for the Wildcats. Kentucky is now set to face No. 6-seed South Carolina on Thursday, seeking redemption after losing to the Gamecocks in last year’s second round.
Strong Doubles Performance Sets the Stage
With a solid record of only dropping the doubles point eight times this season, Kentucky started the match on the right foot. On Court 2, the duo of Ellie Eades and Florencia Urrutia secured a 6-2 win over their Mississippi State opponents. The No. 22-ranked doubles pair, Carlota Molina and Elizabeth Stevens, followed suit with a 6-2 victory, giving the Wildcats an early lead.
Continuing the Momentum in Singles Play
Carrying the momentum into singles play, the Wildcats continued to dominate. Molina swiftly defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-2 on Court 3, and freshman Zoe Hammond triumphed on Court 5 with a 6-3, 6-3 win. Despite No. 42-ranked Urrutia’s 4-6, 3-6 loss to No. 68 Emma Antonaki on Court 1, the Wildcats remained unfazed. Stevens secured the overall victory on Court 2 with a 7-5, 6-3 sweep.
Looking Forward to the Second Round
With the 4-1 victory over Mississippi State, Kentucky advances to the second round of the SEC Tournament. In the regular season, the Wildcats faced the Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C., but suffered a narrow 3-4 loss. Last year, Kentucky began the tournament with a 4-2 win over LSU, only to have their run cut short in the second round by South Carolina, who defeated them 1-4.
As the Wildcats gear up to face South Carolina on Thursday at 4 p.m. EST, they hope to rewrite their postseason narrative and secure a much-needed win against their familiar opponents.
Match Results
#57 Kentucky 4, Mississippi State 1
Doubles
1. #22 Carlota Molina/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Gia Cohen/Maddie Bemisderfer (MS) 6-4
2. Ellie Eades/Florence Urrutia (UK) def. Emma Antonaki/Dharani Niroshan (MS) 6-2
3. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Sydney Hrehor (MS) def. Zoe Hammond/Lidia Gonzalez (UK) 5-4
Singles
1. #68 Emma Antonaki (MS) def. #42 Florence Urrutia (UK) 6-4, 6-3
2. #118 Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Gia Cohen (MS) 7-5, 6-3
3. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Dharani Niroshan (MS) 6-2, 6-2
4. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) vs. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MS) 3-6, 6-2, unfinished
5. Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Emily Surcey (MS) 6-3, 6-3
6. Maialen Morante (UK) vs. Maria Rizzolo (MS) 5-7, 2-4, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (3,5,1,2)