LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lauryn John-Baptiste and Ilze Hattingh stayed perfect in doubles play, but the Sun Devil women's tennis team dropped a match for just the second time this season on the road at No. 20 Kentucky, 4-2.
For the seventh-straight match, the Sun Devils took the doubles point thanks to wins from John-Baptiste/Hattingh and Fossa Huergo/Kolarova's first win as a tandem.
"It was a tough match today for sure," coach Sheila McInerney said. "Give a lot of credit to Kentucky because they sure came out and played super aggressive tennis after losing the doubles point."
ASU was in the hole early as they dropped the first match on court three to a Wildcat duo, but courts two and one went to the Devils in succession.
For Fossa Huergo/Kolarova, it was the duo's first win of the season after their debut together last weekend against Santa Clara. They took down the No. 42 duo in the NCAA in UK's Adachi/Fanning, 6-4.
In singles play, Fossa Huergo dropped a two-set contest on court three, 6-2, 6-2, that pulled the host Cats even with the Devils, and Kentucky went on to win three of the four remaining matches to take the win.
John-Baptiste got ASU's sole singles win on the day when she defeated No. 117 Justina Mikulskyte in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-3. It was the Sun Devil freshman's fourth win over a ranked opponent this spring in as many tries.
"They had us on our heels and we never really recovered," McInerney said. "We didn't play poorly, Kentucky was just more bold and took it to us."
While Sasa Klanecek looked primed to give the Devils their third point of the match on court six, her match was suspended after Tereza Kolarova was defeated on court five.
Klanecek won the first set of the match 6-1 and was tied 3-3 in the second set before the match was called for Kentucky.
"Hopefully we will learn from this and be ready for Ohio State Sunday," McInerney said.
The Devils don't have much time to dwell on the loss as they hit the road for Columbus where they will take on the 14th-ranked and defending Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday morning.
Arizona State: 2
Kentucky: 4
Doubles Play
1. Nicole Fossa Huergo/Tereza Kolarova (ASU) def. #42 Mami Adachi/Emily Fanning (UK) 6-4
2. Lauryn John-Baptiste/Ilze Hattingh (ASU) def. Justina Mikulskyte/Diana Tkachenko (UK) 6-3
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Brianna Tulloch (UK) def. Sasa Klanecek/Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 6-3
Singles Play
1. #84 Lauryn John-Baptiste (ASU) def. #117 Justina Mikulskyte (UK) 6-1, 6-3
2. Emily Fanning (UK) def. Ilze Hattingh (ASU) 7-5, 7-5
3. Mami Adachi (UK) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. #107 Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Tereza Kolarova (ASU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Brianna Tulloch (UK) vs. Sasa Klanecek (ASU) 1-6, 3-3, unfinished
For the seventh-straight match, the Sun Devils took the doubles point thanks to wins from John-Baptiste/Hattingh and Fossa Huergo/Kolarova's first win as a tandem.
"It was a tough match today for sure," coach Sheila McInerney said. "Give a lot of credit to Kentucky because they sure came out and played super aggressive tennis after losing the doubles point."
ASU was in the hole early as they dropped the first match on court three to a Wildcat duo, but courts two and one went to the Devils in succession.
For Fossa Huergo/Kolarova, it was the duo's first win of the season after their debut together last weekend against Santa Clara. They took down the No. 42 duo in the NCAA in UK's Adachi/Fanning, 6-4.
In singles play, Fossa Huergo dropped a two-set contest on court three, 6-2, 6-2, that pulled the host Cats even with the Devils, and Kentucky went on to win three of the four remaining matches to take the win.
John-Baptiste got ASU's sole singles win on the day when she defeated No. 117 Justina Mikulskyte in straight-sets, 6-1, 6-3. It was the Sun Devil freshman's fourth win over a ranked opponent this spring in as many tries.
"They had us on our heels and we never really recovered," McInerney said. "We didn't play poorly, Kentucky was just more bold and took it to us."
While Sasa Klanecek looked primed to give the Devils their third point of the match on court six, her match was suspended after Tereza Kolarova was defeated on court five.
Klanecek won the first set of the match 6-1 and was tied 3-3 in the second set before the match was called for Kentucky.
"Hopefully we will learn from this and be ready for Ohio State Sunday," McInerney said.
The Devils don't have much time to dwell on the loss as they hit the road for Columbus where they will take on the 14th-ranked and defending Big Ten Tournament champion Ohio State Buckeyes Sunday morning.
Arizona State: 2
Kentucky: 4
Doubles Play
1. Nicole Fossa Huergo/Tereza Kolarova (ASU) def. #42 Mami Adachi/Emily Fanning (UK) 6-4
2. Lauryn John-Baptiste/Ilze Hattingh (ASU) def. Justina Mikulskyte/Diana Tkachenko (UK) 6-3
3. Lesedi Jacobs/Brianna Tulloch (UK) def. Sasa Klanecek/Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 6-3
Singles Play
1. #84 Lauryn John-Baptiste (ASU) def. #117 Justina Mikulskyte (UK) 6-1, 6-3
2. Emily Fanning (UK) def. Ilze Hattingh (ASU) 7-5, 7-5
3. Mami Adachi (UK) def. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. #107 Savannah Slaysman (ASU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Tereza Kolarova (ASU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Brianna Tulloch (UK) vs. Sasa Klanecek (ASU) 1-6, 3-3, unfinished