The Crimson Tide women’s tennis team earned its first Southeastern Conference win on Friday against the University of Kentucky, 6-1, at the Alabama Tennis Stadium before going on the road Sunday to defeat Vanderbilt 4-3.
Having previously lost to Texas Tech, Kentucky lost its sixth consecutive game in Tuscaloosa this past weekend, leaving the Wildcats with a 3-13 (1-3 SEC) record on the season.
The Tide was more than ready to play at home after a short road tour and two SEC losses. The team took on Kentucky with full force as Alabama claimed five of six singles matches and all three of the doubles contests, which earned the Tide the 6-1 decision.
“We went out strong against Kentucky,” said head coach Jenny Mainz. “In doubles we kept good momentum all the way through. Singles wise, we gained the advantage early on and really went out to compete for the points.”
In singles, Alabama’s Courtney McLane defeated UK freshmen Caitlin McGraw, 6-1, 6-1 early in the duel. Then Alexa Guarachi took out her Kentucky counterpart on court two, 6-3, 6-1. The Tide’s No. 1 singles competitor, Mary Anne Macfarlane, wrapped up her match against UK’s Morgan Broderick, 6-2, 6-2, while Alabama’s only loss came from freshmen Alex Clay’s match against Khristina Blaikevitch, 6-4, 6-3.
Antonia Foehse earned another win for the Tide, but not without a struggle. She took her first set 6-2 but fell short 4-6 in the second. Hitting her stride in the third set, Foehse knocked over Kentucky freshman CeCe Written 10-7 for the decision. On court six, the Tide’s Meritt Emery closed out her UK competitor, Misha Testerman, 6-2, 6-3 for the final win.
In doubles, both pairs – No. 12 Guarachi and McLane and No. 58 Foehse and Macfarlane – gained wins over the Wildcats 8-3, 8-4, respectively. However, ending the sweep was Clay and her partner, Taylor Lindsey, with an 8-6 marginal win over Kentucky duo McGraw and Marni Venter.
“Courtney and Alexa are our doubles leaders,” Mainz said. “When they go out hungry, everyone else follows the example. We really earned the doubles point.”
Alabama was then scheduled to face off against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday and for the first time in 17 years, the Tide defeated the Commodores, 4-3. The win improved Alabama to 9-5 (2-3 SEC).
“We came out of the gate playing some very convincing tennis,” Mainz said. “The win was a complete team effort and I am so proud of the work done today.”
Struggling through singles, the favor of the match swayed during each set. Vanderbilt’s Jackie Wu was the first to take out a Tide player, defeating Clay, 6-3, 6-1. No. 93 Guarachi took out No. 69 Chelsea Preeg 6-3, 6-4, while Macfarlane fell to Commodore freshman Alex Leatu in the third set, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Alabama’s duos dominated the doubles competition once again 8-2, 8-1, 8-1, respectively, while McLane’s epic singles match broke the team score tie in the third set, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
“This was the big win we’ve been waiting for as a team,” Mainz said. “The team has wanted this all season and we just came out ready to win from the start.”
The Tide will play host to another series at home on Friday and Sunday against No. 12 Arkansas and LSU.
