The No. 53 Kentucky doubles tandem of senior Carolina Escamilla and freshman Caroline Lilley led the Cats in winning the doubles point against No. 29 Arkansas. The Razorbacks used a tough singles line-up to trump the Wildcats, 5-2.

It seemed as though the Razorbacks would claim the doubles point as the No. 18 pair of Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu led Escamilla and Lilley 4-2. But the Blue and White put up a fight and rallied back to 6-6. UK went up to 8-7 but Airapetian and Tigu tied it at 8-8. In a winning effort the Wildcats won the tie-breaker, 7-3, for a 9-8 victory and the clinch of the doubles point.

UK and the ‘Backs split courts two and three in doubles. Sophomore Lauren Meier and junior Whitney Spencer paired up on court three for the duo’s third straight win. They defeated Emily Carbone and Ela Kaluder, 8-4. Arkansas claimed court two, 8-1 over junior Christine Johnston and sophomore Megan Broderick.

The only singles point for the Cats would come on court six with Lilley. After a 6-4 set to UK, Lilley finished off Kate Lukomskaya, 7-5 in the second.

Johnston and Meier each took their matches into three sets, winning the first, but neither could seal the deal. Arkansas’ Kaluder defeated Johnston on court three, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, while Meier fell to Airapetian, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Kentucky’s Broderick was set up against the nation’s No. 10 Aurelija Miseviciute on court one, but unable to rattle off a game point, fell 6-0, 6-0. Escamilla found a loss on court two to No. 97 Tigu, 6-1, 6-3, and the Cats’ Spencer dropped a 6-4, 7-5 decision against Emily Carbone.

Arkansas is also coming off a split SEC weekend. After being upset in Tuscaloosa, Ala., against the No. 37 Crimson Tide, the Lady ‘Backs defeated Auburn 6-1. Arkansas has one ranked doubles pair and two singles. Aurelija Miseviciute was ranked No. 1 part of last season and remains in the top 10. Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu are No. 18 in doubles, playing on court one for the Razorbacks.

Kentucky (9-2 overall, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) will look for a chance to rebound and even out the weekend against No. 20 LSU in Baton Rouge Sunday. The match is scheduled for March 15 at 1 p.m.

Live stats will be available by visiting, www.lsusports.net.

No. 13 Kentucky 2, No. 29 Arkansas 5
 
Singles
1. #10 Aurelija Miseviciute (Ark) def. #96 Megan Broderick (UK), 6-0, 6-0
2. #97 Anouk Tigu (Ark) def. Carolina Escamilla (UK), 6-1, 6-3
3. Ela Kaluder (Ark) def. Christine Johnston (UK), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. Emily Carbone (Ark) def. Whitney Spencer (UK), 6-4, 7-5
5. Nanar Airapetian (Ark) def. Lauren Meier (UK), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
6. Caroline Lilley (UK) def. Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 6-4, 7-5
 
Doubles
1.  #53 Caroline Lilley/Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. #18 Nanar Airapetian/Anouk Tigu (Ark), 9-8(3)
2. Aurelija Miseviciute/Ela Kaluder (Ark) def. Christine Johnston/Megan Broderick (UK), 8-1
3. Lauren Meier/Whitney Spencer (UK) def. Emily Carbone/Kate Lukomskaya (Ark), 8-4
 
Order of Finish
Doubles: 2,3,1 Singles: 1,2,3,6,4*,5