The Alabama women’s tennis team impressed in both singles and doubles play to earn the 4-1 upset victory against No. 18 Kentucky on Friday night at the Alabama Tennis Stadium. With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 11-5 on the year and 1-2 in Southeastern Conference play, while the Wildcats drop to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in SEC competition.

“We kept fighting all night and it led to a big confidence boost for us, we need to use that momentum,” head coach Jenny Mainz stated. “We know what we’re capable of accomplishing and previously had not been able to turn the corner and we said we just need that one to get over the hump. It was a big win for us tonight.”

The Tide started the night off strong by winning the doubles point after juniors Kimberley Gintrand and Ann Selim won on court three. With the point coming down to court two, juniors Alba Cortina Pou and Luca Fabian pulled through with a 6-4 victory over No. 76 Jacobs/Fiquet to give Alabama the 1-0 edge.

In singles play UA did not let up, as sophomore Moka Ito quickly moved past Akvile Parazinskaite, 6-1, 6-4, to make it 2-0. After a loss on court five cut the lead to 2-1, junior Jacqueline Pelletier earned a 6-4, 6-2 victory to push the advantage to 3-1. With all three remaining matches in the Tide’s favor in the respective third sets, Selim closed it out with a 7-6(3), 6-3, win on court six to give Alabama its first SEC win of the season.

The Tide be back in action on Sunday, March 10 for a doubleheader against No. 5 Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. CT and then against Alcorn State at 4 p.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed via RollTide.com.

 

Alabama Results

Doubles

  1. No. 55 Mikulskyte/Parazinskaite def. Daniell/Ito, 6-3
  2. Cortina Pou/Fabian def. No. 55 Jacobs/Fiquet, 6-4
  3. Gintrand/Selim def. A. Tkachenko/Merrill, 6-4

Singles

  1. No. 66 Andie Daniell vs. No. 48 Justina Milkuskyte, 4-6, 6-4, 3-2, unf.
  2. Moka Ito def. Akvile Parazinskaite, 6-1, 6-4
  3. Alba Cortina Pou vs. Sedi Jacobs, 2-6, 7-6(2), 2-1, unf.
  4. Jacqueline Pelletier def. Tiphanie Fiquet, 6-4, 6-2
  5. Diana Tkachenko def. Luca Fabian, 6-3, 6-3
  6. Anastasia Tkachenko def. Ann Selim, 7-6(3), 6-3

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR