LEXINGTON, Ky.? The University of Kentucky men?s tennis team will embark on its final non-conference match of the season when they visit South Bend to take on the No. 6 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on Wednesday at the Courtney Tennis Center.

Kentucky?s 1-1 weekend in which they earned their third conference victory of the season by beating South Carolina guided them up the ITA rankings to No. 54. This marks the sixth top-10 opponent of the season for the young Wildcats (13-12, 3-7) who have faced arguably one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

UK has struggled on the road this season, holding a 1-7 record on unfamiliar ground. The leadership of the top of the lineup has been exceptional in recent weeks and Coach Dennis Emery?s club will need to continue to have their top players performing well as they once again face one of the nation?s top teams. Junior Marcus Sundh, senior Peter Bjork and sophomore Bruno Agostinelli all toppled the Gamecocks? in straight sets to lead the way this weekend. Agostinelli leads the team with a 19-5 record, while Sundh sports a 16-7 dual-match record. Bjork and Sundh each have notched a team-best 4-4 SEC record.

Sophomore Shane Collins? win in the No. 6 slot gave the Wildcats the victory over South Carolina in the Blue and White?s home finale on Friday. Collins has notched two match-clinching wins thus far in the season in the No. 6 hole. Sundh needs just two more singles victories to record his third consecutive season of 20 or more wins.

Notre Dame (18-3) is coming off arguably its most impressive victory of the 2007 season. The Irish thundered past No. 8 Illinois, 5-2, April 1, despite dropping the doubles point. Notre Dame got singles victories from Stephen Bass, Sheeva Parbhu, Barry King, Ryan Keckley and Andrew Roth to secure the win.

The Irish will be in action Tuesday with a non-conference battle at Ball State. Notre Dame?s match against Southern Methodist scheduled for Sunday was cancelled due to cold temperatures.

The Big East member is the first this season for the Wildcats. They are led by three ranked players in No. 9 Bass, No. 54 Parbhu and No. 114 Brett Helgeson. Notre Dame also boasts the No. 20 doubles tandem of Parbhu and Ryan Keckley.

First serve with Notre Dame is slated for 3:30 p.m. EDT. Complete coverage of the day?s results can be found at www.ukathletic.com.