LEXINGTON, Ky. — WKU Tennis fell by a score of 7-0 in the team's match at Kentucky on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Toppers dropped their season record to 1-3, while the Wildcats extended their undefeated start to 7-0.
The highlight of the day was at No. 2 singles, where Laura Bernardos took her match to a third-set tiebreaker. After falling in the first set 6-1, Bernardos rallied back to take the second set 6-3, but she dropped the tiebreaker by a score of 10-4. The other five Lady Toppers in the singles lineup were defeated in straight sets.
"Kentucky showed why they will be in the top 25 and NCAA Tournament; they are a very deep and consistent team," head coach Greg Davis said. "I'm looking forward to how our team responds at NKU next Saturday, which is always a tough place to play."
The Lady Toppers' next match will be against the Norse on Feb. 6 at Five Seasons Sports Club. WKU is 2-3 all-time against NKU, winning matches in the 2007 and 2013 campaigns, but falling in 2014, 2019 and 2020 matchups.
It will be NKU's first match of the 2021 campaign. The Norse had a 6-3 dual match record in 2020 before the remainder of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were supposed to begin their season on Jan. 30, but a match against Thomas More was postponed.
Final Results
Singles (Order of finish: 3,4,1,2,6,5)
1: Akvile Parazinskaite (UK) def. Cora-Lynn von Dungern (WKU) 6-1, 6-3
2: Carla Girbau (UK) def. Laura Bernardos (WKU) 6-1, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4)
3: Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Tristen Bryant-Otake (WKU) 6-2, 6-2
4: Salsa Aher (UK) def. Samantha Martinez (WKU) 6-1, 6-0
5: Maialen Morante (UK) def. Lisa Friess (WKU) 7-6 (7-0), 6-2
6: Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. Alexis Cramer (WKU) 6-2, 6-2
Doubles (Order of finish 3,1)
1: Arrese/Parazinskaite (UK) def. Friess/von Dungern (WKU) 6-2
2: Girbau/Stevens (UK) vs. Bernardos/Martinez (WKU) 4-2, unfinished
3: Aher/Jacobs (UK) def. Bryant-Otake/Joch (WKU) 6-2
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
