March 4, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second time this season, Kentucky women’s tennis freshman Caroline Lilley was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week which was announced early Wednesday morning by the league office.

Lilley, of Portland, Ore., gave Kentucky the extra push it needed to defeat the No. 9 Clemson Tigers last week. With the match tied at 3-3, Lilley was the sole Wildcat left, playing on court five against Laurianne Henry. Leaving nothing behind she defeated the Tiger for a convincing 6-2, 6-2 decision, giving UK the win.

This was the third time the rookie decided the match for the Blue and White. Last time Lilley clinched the match was against No. 31 Ohio State in a three-set duel for the 4-3 win over the Buckeyes.

The freshman not only won her singles match against Clemson, but helped the Wildcats take the doubles point as well. Lilley and her partner senior Carolina Escamilla defeated No. 27 Josipa Bek and Ina Hadziselimovic on court one, 8-3. As a result, the pair is newly ranked as the nation’s No. 53 duo and maintains a clean record of 4-0.

Lilley also has an unblemished singles record, tying for the lead in wins on the team with seven.

With a record of 8-0, Kentucky holds on to the program’s best start in over 20 years and has earned the country’s No. 14 spot, as well as the program’s best ranking since Jan. 31, 2005.

The Blue and White wrap up its string of home matches this weekend as they begin conference play against No. 31 Florida Friday, March 6 at 1 p.m. ET and No. 28 South Carolina Sunday, March 8 at noon ET.