This week’s release of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) men’s tennis rankings sheds new light on a Kentucky singles win recorded last Sunday.

UK junior Jesse Witten, then the ITA’s 16th-ranked men’s singles player, recorded a 6-4, 6-4 victory over then-No. 3 Benedikt Dorsch of Baylor. Considered the top collegiate dual-match victory for Witten, the win was his first over Dorsch and Dorsch’s first dual-match loss this season. The players’ rankings entering the match had been released by the ITA in January just before the start of dual-match play. Given the ensuing singles results between the releases of the preseason rankings and this week’s rankings, Dorsch’s play elevated him to the No. 1 ranking, increasing the importance of the Witten victory four days ago in Waco. Witten has since moved up to the No. 14 slot in the men’s singles rankings.

Kentucky moved up four spots from No. 18 to No. 14.

Cats Taking Time Off

The Kentucky men have this weekend off and will use the idle time to prepare for next weekend’s start of SEC dual-match play. The Cats meet South Carolina next Friday, Mar. 5 in Columbia and return to Lexington to battle fourth-ranked Florida on Sunday, Mar. 7. Live scoring updates will be available at www.ukathletics.com for the Mar. 7 Florida match.