Mikhailuk, Rizzolo Earn Wins Against Wildcats

Friday, March 15

Lexington, Ky.

4 p.m.

Mississippi State

Kentucky

STARKVILLE, MS - February 04, 2024 - Mississippi State's Maria Rizzolo and Mississippi State's Alexandra Mikhailuk during the match between the Belmont Bruins and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at the Rula Tennis Pavilion in Starkville, MS. Photo By Aniyah Mills

Photo by: Aniyah Mills/MSU Athletics

Mikhailuk, Rizzolo Earn Wins Against Wildcats

March 15, 2024 | Women's Tennis

By: Logan Lowery, Assistant Director/Communications

LEXINGTON, Ky., - Mississippi State claimed singles victories on the top two courts on Friday but it would not be enough to procure a win in the Bluegrass State.

Alexandra Mikhailuk and Maria Rizzolo both secured points at the top of the Bulldogs' singles lineup. However, it was No. 64 Kentucky that came away with a 4-2 win inside the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.

Rizzolo put State on the board first after the Wildcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The junior from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida prevailed 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 against Lidia Gonzalez for her first SEC win of the season.

Mikhailuk followed suit with a 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Elizabeth Stevens on Court 1 to pull the Bulldogs closer. The win was the 67^th of Mikhailuk's career, which ties her with MSU Hall of Famer and current Northwestern head coach Claire Pollard (1986-89) for the 10^th-most singles victories in school history.

UK (7-6, 1-3 SEC) was able to clinch the match when Julia Zhu defeated Dharani Niroshan 6-2, 6-2.

State's Alessia Tagliente took her first set against Ellie Myers 7-5 and had just started the second set when the Wildcats clinched their first conference victory.

Chris Hooshyar's Bulldogs (9-7, 0-4 SEC) will have another ranked opportunity on the road when they travel to No. 30 Vanderbilt on Sunday at 1 p.m.

No. 64 Kentucky 4, Mississippi State 2
Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center | Lexington, Ky.
March 15, 2024

Doubles
1. No. 50 Makayla Mills/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-3
2. Ellie Eades/Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Chloé Cirotte/Jayna Clemens (MSU) 7-6(6)
3. Dharani Niroshan/Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Lidia Gonzalez/Julia Zhu (UK) 5-5 unfinished
Order of finish: (1,2)

Singles
1. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-2
2. Maria Rizzolo (MSU) def. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3
3. Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Chloé Cirotte (MSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Ellie Eades (UK) def. Athina Pitta (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Julia Zhu (UK) def. Dharani Niroshan (MSU) 6-2, 6-2
6. Alessia Tagliente (MSU) vs. Ellie Myers (UK) 7-5, 0-1 unfinished
Order of finish: (4,3,2,1,5)

For more information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit HailState.com or search for "HailStateWT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.