Kentucky Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament with 4-0 Win Over Georgia State

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.  – The Kentucky men’s tennis team earned a dominant 4-0 victory over Georgia State on Friday to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UK will face the winner of the Wake Forest – UNC Wilmington match on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Wildcats improved to 15-12 overall while GSU will finish the season at 19-8.

“It was a solid win from top to bottom against a good Georgia State team,” head coach Cedric Kauffmann said. “I felt all our players got in the flow of their game and competed every point. When that happens we’re one of the best teams in the country. It’ll be a tough draw in the second round of the NCAA’s but we can’t wait to meet that challenge. We know have the talent to win it.”

A battle for the doubles point came down a tiebreaker on court one. Court three was the first to finish after Trey Yates and Gus Benson fell to Felipe Jaworski and Quentin Couland, 6-3. Shortly after, Will Bushamuka and Nils Ellefsen evened the battle with a 6-4 win over Sebastian Acuna and Jack MacFarlane. The duo of Bushamuka and Ellefsen improved to 9-6 this season.

After a back-and-forth battle on court one, the Georgia State duo of Zackery Kennedy and Andrei Andrukhou evened the score at 6-6 to force a tiebreak. The No. 33 ranked squad of Enzo Wallart and Beck Pennington responded, however, earning a 7-6 (7-5) win, the duo’s sixth of the season.

Bushamuka earned the first singles win of the day the Cats up 2-0. The Princeton, N.J. earned a 6-1, 6-0 win over No. 95 Zackary Kennedy. Bushamuka earned his sixth ranked win of the year and improved to 13-7 overall. 

“Personally I did well and I was focused throughout the match,” Bushamuka said. “I was mentally ready for anything that was going to come. We played as a team today and did really well communicating. We’re going to go out there and fight tomorrow.”

Kentucky went up 3-0 when Pennington earned a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Jannis Koeke. Pennington earned his team best 17th win of the season, and his second-straight victory after earning a win in the SEC Tournament. 

“Coming off some losses put a damper on things but we’ve had two weeks of really good practice,” Pennington said. “Coach has the guys back together working hard and the early morning workouts are really paying off. It feels good to get a doubles point and get three singles points back-to-back.”

The Cats clinched the victory at 4-0 when Nils Ellefsen tied Beck Pennington with his 17th victory of the season. Ellefsen beat Quentin Coulaud, 6-4, 6-2 for the winning point.

“It finally felt good playing well in doubles and getting the doubles point,” Ellefsen said. We rolled that momentum into singles and I think we won five out six first sets which really helped us. It’s nice winning 4-0, especially in the NCAA’s.”

Three Wildcats were involved in matches when play was called due to the Ellefsen winner. No. 66 Ryo Matsumura was down 4-6, 2-2 when play was called, No. 106 Trey Yates was up 6-4, 4-1 and Enzo Wallart was up 6-3, 3-3. 

Kentucky will face the winner of the Wake Forest – UNC Wilmington match tomorrow at 5 p.m. 

1. #17 Will Bushamuka (UK) def. #95 Zackery Kennedy (GSU) 6-1, 6-0

2. #66 Ryotaro Matsumura (UK) vs. Andrei Andrukhou (GSU) 4-6, 2-2, unfinished

3. Beck Pennington (UK) def. Jannis Koeke (GSU) 6-1, 6-4

4. Nils Ellefsen (UK) def. Quentin Coulaud (GSU) 6-4, 6-2

5. #106 Trey Yates (UK) vs. Sebastian Acuna (GSU) 6-4, 4-1, unfinished

6. Enzo Wallart (UK) vs. Felipe Jaworski (GSU) 6-3, 3-3, unfinished

1. #33 Enzo Wallart/Beck Pennington (UK) def. Zackery Kennedy/Andrei Andrukhou (GSU) 7-6 (7-5)

2. Will Bushamuka/Nils Ellefsen (UK) def. Sebastian Acuna/Jack MacFarlane (GSU) 6-4

3. Felipe Jaworski/Quentin Coulaud (GSU) def. Trey Yates/Gus Benson (UK) 6-3

Georgia State 19-7; National ranking #40

Kentucky 15-12; National ranking #32

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

NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship – First Round

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