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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The first round of the NCAA Tennis Tournament put No. 23 Kentucky against No. 44 Boise State. Despite the doubles point loss, the Wildcats pulled out a win with singles, defeating the Broncos 4-1.

Doubles play went down to the wire with split wins between two and three and close scores on court one. Boise State had the first serve on court two against UK’s Megan Broderick and Alaina Trgovich. The Wildcats traded points with the Broncos but only allowed two opponent points. Kentucky took the lead at 3-2 and never looked back. Broderick and Trgovich defeated Laura Baum and Jana Mackova 8-5.
Courts one and three remained tight through doubles. Sarah Wostmann and Whitney Spencer of the Cats occupied three’s against Bianca Jochimsen and Klaudia Wlodarczyk. The Broncos kept the lead, splitting the match wins with an 8-5 victory. Kentucky’s pair of No. 37 Christine Johnston and Carolina Escamilla were unable to rise above Boise State’s number one duo Polina Kokoulina and Pichittra Thongdach. The Broncos secured the doubles point with an 8-6 win over the Cats.
In singles action, Kentucky’s Escamilla led Kokoulina the whole match on court two to put UK on the board for a 1-1 score. The Wildcats’ Spencer added to the board on court six. After winning the first set 6-4, Spencer commanded the second set against Baum for a 6-1 win and second match point for the Cats. The Wildcats continued to lead the Broncos at 3-1. Johnston won a hard-fought match on court four with BSU’s Wlodarczyk. After a long 6-3 first set, Johnston remained strong for an ace on the last point and a 6-4 second set victory.

ukathletics.com - Kentucky Singles Wins NCAA First Round