Jan. 21, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team begins its 2010 spring schedule playing a pair of dual matches this weekend in Minneapolis, Minn. The Wildcats will take on host Minnesota (1-0) Friday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. EST and compete against North Carolina (1-0) Saturday, Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. EST.

“We’re very excited to get started with the spring season,” head coach Carlos Drada said. “The girls have been working hard and are ready to compete.”The Wildcats are led by junior Megan Broderick and senior Christine Johnston.

Broderick played primarily at No. 1 singles last year for Kentucky, ranking as high as No. 55 in the nation. To highlight her 2009 singles play, Broderick rallied in a third set tiebreaker to upset Georgia’s then-No. 34 Yvette Hyndman. Broderick paired with Johnston to record a 9-9 doubles record.

Winning 19 singles contests in 2009, Johnston took seven in row with match-clinching points against Miami (Ohio), Indiana, and Ohio State. Johnston’s comeback against the Buckeyes during the NCAA First Round helped UK advance to second-round action.

“Megan is a player who has always played well against the best competition in the nation,” Drada said. “She has a great net game and is an aggressive player. Christine is our rock. She is a very consistent player who won’t give her opponent many free points.”

Other UK players include sophomore Caroline Lilley, junior Lauren Meier and sophomore Minnette Pienaar. Newcomers freshman Elle Coldiron and junior Nicole Scates joined the team at the start of the 2010 spring semester.

Lilley led the Wildcats during the 2009 campaign with 15 dual match singles victories and 25 wins overall. She earned a 9-3 mark at No. 5 singles. Meier registered a 13-12 overall record last season for Kentucky. Pienaar saw limited action as freshman, playing in five dual matches in singles and four in doubles after joining the squad in January 2009.

Kentucky will play its first six dual meets on the road before playing host to Marshall, Feb. 10 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.