Jan. 21, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Looking to continue its momentum after one of the best fall seasons in school history, the No. 7 University of Kentucky men’s tennis team is set to begin its 2012 dual-match season when it travels to face IUPUI and No. 53 Michigan State on Sunday in Indianapolis.
The day will begin with Kentucky facing IUPUI at 10 a.m. ET, followed by a 2 p.m. showdown with 53rd-ranked Michigan State. Both matches will be played at the Indianapolis Tennis Center.
Kentucky starts the dual-match season ranked seventh in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, while six Wildcats are ranked in the ITA singles poll, more than any other team in the nation. Senior No. 5 Eric Quigley headlines the rankings, while fellow senior Alex Musialek is ranked 13th. Junior Anthony Rossi is ranked a career-high 36th in the nation, while sophomores Panav Jha, Tom Jomby and Alejandro Gomez are ranked 85th, 95th and 111th, respectively.
The Wildcats are coming off a very impressive showing in the Southeastern Conference Coaches’ Indoor Championships with Rossi earning the singles title. Rossi’s title marked the first time Kentucky had won the singles title at the event since Adam Malik did in 1989. Quigley and Jomby had nice showings at the event by advancing to the quarterfinals, while Musialek had an appearance in the round of 16.
UK also did well in doubles with Quigley and Jha advancing to the semifinals of the doubles main draw, while Musialek and Gomez made it to the quarterfinals.
Kentucky, which is entering its 30th season under the direction of legendary head coach Dennis Emery, had a record-breaking 2011 season. Kentucky ended the historic year with a school record for wins in a single season with 29, shattering the previous record of 25, which was set 2010. The Wildcats performed deep into both postseason events, advancing to the finals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament for only the second time in school history and making it to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for only the fourth time in school history and first since 2002.
Tough competition will await the Wildcats in Indianapolis. IUPUI won its opening match of the year Friday when the Jaguars defeated SIU-Edwardsville 5-2. The Jags are coming off a third-place finish in the Summit League regular-season standings a season ago before making some noise in the conference championship, advancing to the championship match before falling to UMKC.
Michigan State enters Sunday’s match having already played four dual-matches this season with a 3-1 record. The Spartans’ lone loss came to No. 16 Mississippi State on Friday at home. State has defeated Wright State, Bradley and Morehead State.
For more information on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow “UKmenstennis” on Twitter or “University of Kentucky men’s tennis team” on Facebook.
