Wildcats defeated Quakers 5-2 – University of Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. #60 Arizona defeats Penn 5-2 after a 3.5 hour battle at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center on Thursday, March 9th. Despite losing the doubles point, the ‘Cats bounced back in singles.

The doubles point was born in a battle between the two courts Reece Carter and Lauren Friedman vs. Iris Gallo and Maya Urata. First Parker Fry and Kayla Wilkins beat Gavriella Smith and Juliana Munhoz 6-2 on court three Salma Ziouti and Belen Nevenhovenfell 2-6 against Sabine Rutlauka and Eileen Wang in singles. The Wildcats eventually fell 5-7 against the Quakers. It was Friedman’s first appearance in a dual meet this spring.

Dropping the doubles point meant the ‘Cats had to fight back in singles. Carter put Arizona on the board after defeating Smith in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 in two singles matches. Zioutifell 3-6, 4-6 in one singles game against Rutlaukat gave the Quakers a 2-1 lead. At five singles, Fry evened the Total Score at 2-2 with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Urata. Castillo put the Wildcats back in the lead when she beat Wang 7-6(5), 6-3 in the third set.

Wilkins clinched the game for Arizona in a tight game against Munhoz with four singles. They split the sets, with the Wildcat taking the first 6-4 and then falling 2-6 before defeating the Quaker in the semifinals 7-6(2). Tanvi Narendran closed out the match for the Wildcats 5-2 after defeating Gallo 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3 in six singles games. The win was Narendran’s eighth this spring.

Kayla Wilkins struggles to arizona ??

def. 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(2)#BearDown pic.twitter.com/1mutPbzSSH

— Arizona Women’s Tennis (@ArizonaWTennis) March 10, 2023

The Wildcats are now 11-6 overall heading into home games on Tuesday, March 14th against #28 Illinois at 10am MT and New Mexico State at 5pm MT to conclude their final non-conference game of the regular season. Arizona continues Pac-12 play on Friday, March 17 against #71 Washington State in Pullman, Wash.

Score

#60 University of Arizona 5, Pennsylvania 2

Singles competition
1. Sabine Rutlauka (PENN) def. Salma Ziouti (ARIZ) 6-3, 6-4
2. Reece Carter (ARIZ) def. Gavriella Smith (PENN) 6-3, 6-4
3. Midori Castillo-Meza (ARIZ) def. Eileen Wang (PENN) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Kayla Wilkins (ARIZ) def. Juliana Munhoz (PENN) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2)
5. Parker Fry (ARIZ) def. Maya Urata (PENN) 7-5, 6-1
6. Tanvi Narendran (ARIZ) def. Iris Gallo (PENN) 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-3
Finishing order: 2, 1, 5, 3, 4, 6

Singles competition
1. Sabine Rutlauka/Eileen Wang (PENN) def. Salma Ziouti/Belen Nevenhoven (ARIZ) 6-2
2. Iris Gallo/Maya White (PENN) def. Reece Carter/Lauren Friedman (ARIZ) 7-5
3. Kayla Wilkins/Parker Fry (ARIZ) def. Gavriella Smith/Juliana Munhoz (PENN) 6-2
Finishing order: 3, 1, 2