Women’s Tennis Battles Past Kentucky, 4-2

Friday, February 2

New York, N.Y.

1:00 PM

Columbia

Kentucky

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

2/2/2024 9:23:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score (PDF)

Columbia picks up its first win against an SEC team in program history

By: Garret Sulak

NEW YORK – The Columbia women's tennis team dominated in doubles and used a strong singles performance to take a 4-2 win over Kentucky on Friday afternoon at the Philip and Cheryl Milstein Family Tennis Center.

The win is the first in program history against a team from the Southeastern Conference. It is also Columbia's first win over Kentucky after losing the previous four matchups. The Lions improve to 4-1 overall this season with the win.

Columbia took control of the momentum in doubles early and didn't let up as the Lions won the doubles No. 1 and three matches to secure the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead over Kentucky.

Gayathri Krishnan and Sophia Strugnell paired up in the No. 3 spot and dominated early to gain a 5-0 advantage. Kentucky's Zoe Hammond and Julia Zhu were able to win a game, but Krishnan and Strugnell finished off a 6-1 victory for Columbia's first doubles win of the match.

Anna Zhang and Sophia Wang followed a similar script in their 6-1 win over No. 36 Makayla Mills and Elizabeth Stevens in the top doubles match. Zhang and Wang took control with a 4-0 lead before the Wildcats won a game. Zhang and Wang shutdown an attempt for Kentucky to cut the lead in half, and cruised to finish off the 6-1 victory.

Kentucky evened the match to start singles as Hammond defeated Wang, 6-4, 6-0 in the No. 4 singles. Zhang put the Lions back in front with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Eades in the No. 2 spot. Natacha Schou pulled the Lions within one point of clinching the win with a convincing, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Zhu in the No. 5 singles.

With three singles matches remaining, Columbia held a 3-1 advantage. No. 116 Haynes and Krishnan battled to a third set in their matches. Clarine Lerby attempted to battle back, but was defeated by Ellie Myers, 6-2, 7-5 in the No. 6 singles.

With the attention focused on the No. 1 and 3 singles matches still playing, Haynes fought to win a few breaks against Stevens in the third set. Haynes closed out the 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory and was immediately surrounded by her teammates to celebrate.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Anna Zhang/Sophia Wang (COL) def. #36 Makayla Mills/Elizabeth Stevens (UK), 6-1
2. #25 Ellie Eades/Lida Gonzalez (UK) def. Winta Tewolde/Rachele Rimondini (COL), 6-1
3. Gayathri Krishnan/Sophia Strugnell (COL) def. Zoe Hammond/Julia Zhu (UK), 6-1

Singles
1. #116 Julia Haynes (COL) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
2. Anna Zhang (COL) def. Ellie Eades (UK), 6-4, 6-4
3. Gayathri Krishnan (COL) vs. Lidia Gonzalez (UK), 5-7, 6-4, 4-4 (unfinished)
4. Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Sophia Wang (COL), 6-4, 6-0
5. Natacha Schou (COL) def. Julia Zhu (UK), 6-4, 6-4
6. Ellie Myers (UK) def. Clarine Lerby (COL), 6-2, 7-5

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,2,5,6,1)

UP NEXT
Columbia's home stand continues Sunday with a doubleheader featuring matches against Syracuse and Wagner. First serve against Syracuse is set for 11 a.m. with the Wagner match following at 3 p.m.

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