UK Men’s Tennis Opens 2017 Season Against EKU and Dayton

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky is set to open 2017 play with a doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky and Dayton on Monday inside the Boone Tennis Center. Play will begin at 10 a.m. against EKU while UK will face Dayton at 1 p.m.

UK will start the year ranked No. 15 as a team, with three Wildcats ranked individually. Sophomore Ryotaro Matsumura comes in at No. 17, while junior William Bushamuka follows closely at No. 23. Junior Trey Yates is also ranked No. 117 in the country.

“We’re excited to get started,” head coach Cedric Kauffmann said. “The boys have worked hard to get to this point. The talent we have on the team now allows us to try and do something special. We’re getting tougher, more physical and we are starting to play every single point. The leadership of the captains and the team will play a big part in our success. If we stay positive through the next five months we will be fine.”

The two seniors on the squad, Beck Pennington and Nils Ellefsen, were named team captains for the 2017 campaign.

“I’m honored to be a named a captain for this team,” Ellefsen remarked. “We had a good fall semester as we worked hard and got better. I believe we can achieve something very special this year and I am truly excited to start my last season wearing the Kentucky uniform.”

Pennington reiterated what Ellefsen stated on the potential of this squad.

“I’m really looking forward to this season,” Pennington said. “I feel like we can do something special with the group of guys that we have this year. Now we need to get out there and show the country what we’re all about.”

After Monday, Kentucky will continue play at home against Duke on Friday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m.

For more information on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter or Kentucky Men’s Tennis Team on Facebook.