April 3, 2003

The 15th-ranked University of Kentucky women’s tennis team will spend its weekend in Alabama as it travels to face the 21st-ranked Crimson Tide on Friday, Apr. 4 before battling Auburn on Sunday. Kentucky is 16-6 overall and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play. Led by senior Sarah Witten, the Cats have won their last three matches.

Witten, who is ranked 49th in singles, has won five consecutive matches at the top-singles spot. In doubles, her and senior partner Amy Trefethen have won six straight matches at the No. 1 spot and have climbed all the way to eighth in the national rankings. Freshman Nathalie Roels has been a solid contributor as well, winning five consecutive matches at No. 2 singles as well as displaying strong doubles play, at the third position, with partner Shannon Stafford.

“This is a very important weekend for us,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “If we can win out this weekend we will definitely be where we want heading into the postseason.”

Alabama (12-6, 5-3 SEC) has won five of its last six matches with the only loss being to SEC powerhouse Florida. The Tide’s last match was 6-1 drubbing of South Carolina, which the Cats defeated 4-3 last month. Bama is led by senior Sophie Cremers who is 18-1 in singles play this season. Friday’s match between the Cats and the Tide will be played at 4 p.m ET at Alabama’s Varsity Courts.

Auburn (9-7, 2-6 SEC) is led by freshman Isabel Rosenbrock, who lost her first singles match of the year when she was defeated by Florida’s Alexis Gordon on Sunday, March 30. The Tigers will play host to 13th-ranked Vanderbilt on Friday, Apr. 4, before welcoming Kentucky to town on Sunday. The UK/Auburn match will begin at 1 p.m. ET at the Luther Young Tennis Complex.