Split Doubles Points, UK grabbed singles advantage 7-5

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2022) – Fighting and battling until the very end, the Bucs gave it their all despite falling to Kentucky in a doubleheader Friday. The Bucs fell 4-3 in both matches against the Wildcats.

The Wildcats had to earn the doubles point in the first match after the #44 pair in the country in Fernanda Carvajal (Queretaro, Mexico) and Yunuen Elizarraras (Cuernavaca, Mexico) won the No. 3 doubles seed against Kentucky’s Molina and Gonzalez. Carvajal and Elizarraras won again in the second match against the No. 3 doubles against Kentucky’s Molina and Morante to start the year 2-0. ETSU starts the year 3-2 in doubles overall.

Laylo Bakhodirova (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) had herself a day over #100 Carlota Molina, winning both matches over the Wildcat, taking a 24-4 set advantage over Kentucky’s No. 1 seed in the first match. Mayya Gorbunova (Moscow, Russia) and Elizarraras won their first singles matches of the season 6-4, 7-6 (3-7) and 6-3, 6-1, respectively.

Alejandra Morales (Santiago, Chile) grabbed her first win of the season at the No. 1 spot (6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5) in the second match at a crucial time, putting ETSU up 3-2 against the Wildcats. Kentucky’s Gonzalez and Eades stole the last two points in the No. 5 and 6 spots to spoil ETSU’s upset bid.

The first match started at 9 a.m. this morning while the last point won by Kentucky’s Ellie Eades at 8:30 p.m.

Match 1

Singles Competition

1. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) #100 Carlota Molina (UK), 6-2, 6-0
2. Carla Girbau (UK) def. Alejandra Morales (ETSU), 6-1, 7-5
3. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Fernanda Carvajal (ETSU), 7-5, 7-6
4. Florencia Urrutia (UK) def. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU), 6-2, 6-0
5. Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) Lidia Gonzalez (UK), 6-4, 7-6 (3)
6. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) Maialen Morante (UK), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles Competition

1. Ellie Eades/Carla Girbau (UK) def. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU), 6-3
2. Fiona Arrese/Florencia Urrutia (UK) def. Emilia Alfaro/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU), 6-1
3. #44 Fernanda Carvajal/Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) Carlota Molina/Lidia Gonzalez (UK), 6-2

Match Notes: ETSU 0-1, Kentucky 1-0

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

Match 2

Singles Competition

1. Alejandra Morales (ETSU) Carla Girbau (UK), 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5
2. Laylo Bakhodirova (ETSU) #100 Carlota Molina (UK), 6-0, 6-2
3. Fiona Arrese (UK) def. Fernanda Carvajal (ETSU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Florencia Urrutia (UK) def. Emilia Alfaro (ETSU), 7-5, 6-1
5. Ellie Eades (UK) def. Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (11-9)
6. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) def. Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU), 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-2

Doubles Competition

1. Laylo Bakhodirova/Alejandra Morales (ETSU) Ellie Eades/Carla Girbau (UK), 6-4
2. Fiona Arrese/Florencia Urrutia (UK) vs. Emilia Alfaro/Mayya Gorbunova (ETSU) unfinished
3. #44 Fernanda Carvajal/Yunuen Elizarraras (ETSU) Carlota Molina/Maialen Morante (UK), 6-1

Match Notes: ETSU 0-2, Kentucky 2-0

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

UP NEXT

The Bucs will take the next week of preparation to get ready for a weekend against Virginia Tech and #8 NC State, both on the road. The Bucs will take on the Hokies on Saturday the 22^nd, while making the trip to take on the Wolfpack the next day.

For more information on Buccaneer women’s tennis, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the women’s tennis page.