LEXINGTON ? The No. 19 Kentucky women’s tennis team opened up its 2007 season in impressive style Saturday, blanking East Tennessee State 7-0 in the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.

The Wildcats (1-0) continue play at 6 p.m. EST Saturday when they welcome Murray State .

“I think our players showed a lot of intensity,” UK head coach Carlos Drada said. “I think they were ready to play. They were really focused on the specifics. Collectively, we played one of the best matches we’ve played since last year.”

Kentucky earned the doubles point by winning each of the three matches. The third-ranked doubles team of Kim Coventry and Joelle Schwenk defeated Tara Byrne and Olya Batsula 8-2. Carolina Escamilla and Sarah Woestmann bested Yevgeniya Stupak and Masha Ilina 8-3 to clinch the doubles point for the Wildcats. Christine Johnston and Caroline Winebrenner finished the sweep with an 8-4 victory over Elena Volobueva and Vita Moskaliova.

“Joelle (Schwenk) and Kim ( Coventry) are a really strong team,” Drada said. “They always help to set the momentum and I thought we did really well in doubles.”

Kentucky earned its second point of the match as Escamilla defeated Stupak 6-1, 6-0. The third point quickly followed as Coventry dispatched of Batsula 6-1, 6-1. The Wildcats clinched the match when Schwenk defeated Tara Byrne 6-2, 6-0.

Kentucky continued to roll as a pair of freshmen garnered the next two points. Woestmann won a thrilling match against Ilina 6-7, 6-1, (6), and Johnston bested Moskaliova 6-2, 6-2. Sophomore Jessica Giuggioli finished off the match by beating Volobueva 6-2, 7-5.

“The freshmen are paying attention to the details,” Drada said. “Their learning curve has been a little bit faster than expected, so I think we’re going to do really well this season because of them.”

Kentucky 7, East Tennessee State 0 (Lexington , Ky. ? Jan. 20, 2007)

Doubles

1. Kim Coventry and Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. Tara Byrne/Olya Batsula (ETSU) 8-2
2. Carolina Escamilla and Sarah Woestmann (UK) def. Yevgeniya Stupak and Masha Ilina (ETSU) 8-3
3. Christine Johnston and Caroline Winebrenner (UK) def. Elena Volobueva and Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) 8-4

Singles

1. Kim Coventry (UK) def. Olya Batsula (ETSU) 6-1, 6-1
2. Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. Tara Byrne (ETSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Carolina Escamilla (UK) def. Yevgeniya Stupak (ETSU) 6-1, 6-0
4. Sarah Woestmann (UK) def. Masha Ilina (ETSU) 6-7, 6-1, (6)
5. Jessica Giuggioli (UK) def. Elena Volobueva (ETSU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Christine Johnston (UK) def. Vita Moskaliova (ETSU) 6-2, 6-2