April 8, 2010

LEXINGTION, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team prepares for its final home weekend slate of the 2009-2010 season. The Wildcats will welcome LSU on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET, and No. 23 Arkansas on Sunday at 11:30 p.m. ET.  

The No. 1 doubles pair of sophomores Caroline Lilley (Portland, Ore.) and Minnette Pienaar (Graaf-Reinet, South Africa) has claimed three of their last four matches. Lilley and Pienaar most recently beat the Auburn tandem of Myrthe Molenveld and Caroline Thornton 8-5 on March 26.

Senior Christine Johnston (Columbus, Ohio) owns a 10-7 single mark this season, including a 4-3 record in the Southeastern Conference. She has let just one singles match slip away in the past five. The Kentucky captain overpowered Alabama’s Merrit Emery 6-3, 6-1 in her last winning outing.

Johnston, UK’s sole senior, says she is sad that her time as a Wildcat is coming to an end.

“Its bitter sweet,” Johnston said. “It’s exciting that I’ve gotten to spend four years here, but it’s coming to an end. I have really enjoyed it, but it’s sad at the same time because I don’t want it to end.”

Kentucky will face tough opponents in LSU (8-12, 3-5) and Arkansas (14-7, 4-4). Both the Tigers and Razorbacks most recently defeated SEC opponents Alabama and Auburn. LSU seized both matches 5-2 while Arkansas won both with 6-1 tallies. 

The Wildcats hold a 16-4 all-time record over Arkansas and 14-13 mark against LSU.

After this weekend, UK will head to No. 31 Vanderbilt and then journey to the SEC tournament being held in Athens, Ga., on April 23-26.

Live statistics and a full recap of the matches with LSU and Arkansas can be found by visiting UKathletics.com.