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4/22/2006 GAINESVILLE, FL — Third-seeded Kentucky upset No. 2-seeded Vanderbilt, 4-2, in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament and advanced to the final for the second consecutive year and the second time in program history. The Wildcats (17-8) will play top-seeded Florida (20-1) in the final on Sunday at Noon, ET. Last year, UK was the No. 1 seed and lost to third-seeded Florida in the SEC final, 4-2. Jessica Giuggioli provided the heroics for Kentucky with her 6-3, 6-3 victory at the No. 6 position against Maggie Yahner. Giuggioli capitalized on her fourth match point to clinch the decision, which lasted just under two hours. Kentucky, which avenged its 5-2 regular-season loss to Vanderbilt on April 15, carried the momentum of winning a thrilling doubles point onto the singles court, jumping out to quick leads on several courts. The Wildcat No. 3 pair of Danielle Petrisko and Carlina Winebrenner clinched the doubles point with a 9-8 (4) victory over Courtney Ulery and Liberty Sveke. Vanderbilt’s Taka Bertrand defeated Lara Maurer 6-0, 6-1 to even the team score at 1-all, but Petrisko polished off Courtney Ulery at the No. 4 spot to swing the lead back to Kentucky. Joelle Schwenk then added a win at the No. 3 spot to help the Wildcats to a 3-1 lead. Amanda Fish kept the Commodores’ hopes alive with her victory at the No. 1 position, but Giuggioli capped the victory to end any chance of a Vanderbilt rally. Saturday’s semifinal match was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. but due to weather delays the first serve in doubles did not take place until 6:24 p.m. Final Score: No. 3 Kentucky 4, No. 2 Vanderbilt 2 Doubles Singles Order of finish: Doubles-1, 2, 3; Singles-2, 4, 3, 1, 6 |
