FGCU WTEN vs Kentucky Recap

Junior Satomi Momose along with freshman Alba Retortillo collected singles wins as the FGCU women's tennis team fell to Kentucky, 5-2, in the season opener Wednesday night.

Momose put FGCU (0-1) on the board collecting a pair of 6-4 sets on court No. 3, while Retortillo battled back from a 7-5 first set loss, only to win the second set 6-1 and a 10-8 tiebreaker on court No. 6.

"First of all, congratulations to Kentucky, they played a really tough match tonight," said head coach Courtney Vernon. "The girls competed and I'm excited how the freshmen came out and really fought tonight. We have a lot to improve on so I'm really grateful we have a week now to train before we play back-to-back matches next week against Miami (OH) and South Alabama."

Kentucky (1-0), who is receiving votes in the ITA top-25 poll, took a 1-0 lead after producing wins on courts one and two in doubles action. Lesedi Jacobs would come down with the clinching point on the top court.

The Eagles return to the courts next Thursday, Jan. 16 for a match against Miami (OH) at 10 a.m.

Notes:
Momose, Ferding, Ramalle, Retortillo and junior Julia Fisch all made their FGCU spring debuts. Ferding and Retortillo made their debuts as true freshmen, while Momose (SPC: NJCAA) Ramalle (Portland) and Fisch (Arizona State) made their debuts as transfers.

 Singles
1. Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Maja Ornberg (FGCU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Carlota Molina (UK) def. Sara Kelly (FGCU) 7-6 (1-0), 6-2
3. Satomi Momose (FGCU) def. Diana Tkachenko (UK) 6-4, 6-4
4. Carla Girbau (UK) def. Ida Ferding (FGCU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Anastasia Tkachenko (UK) def. Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Alba Retortillo (FGCU) def. Brianna Tulloch (UK) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-8)

Doubles
1. Anastasia Tkachenko/Lesedi Jacobs (UK) def. Satomi Momose/Ida Ferding (FGCU) 6-2
2. Carla Girbau/Diana Tkachenko (UK) def. Julia Fisch/Sara Kelly (FGCU) 6-4
3. Alba Retortillo/Lourdes Ramalle (FGCU) vs. Carlota Molina/Brianna Tulloch (UK) 3-4, unfinished

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