March 13, 2003

The 13th-ranked Kentucky women’s tennis team faces off against No. 1 Florida on Friday, March 14, at UK’s Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. ET.

With a victory, UK (13-5, 3-1 SEC) can move into a tie with the Gators (13-1, 4-0 SEC) for first place in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division. The Cats are riding the momentum of having won each of their last two matches. Senior Amy Trefethen and freshman Shannon Stough have each been rolling for UK. Trefethen has won 10 of her last 11 matches at the No. 5 singles spot, while Stough has won four of her last six at the No. 6 spot and seven of the last nine overall. In doubles, Trefethen and partner Sarah Witten, also a senior, have compiled an 8-2 record at the No. 1 spot since being paired together on Feb. 1. Their play has resulted in them climbing into the No. 18 spot on the Omni Hotel/ITA National Rankings. Senior Shannon Stafford and freshman Nathalie Roels have also been impressive posting a 6-2 record at the No. 3 spot.

The Gators, who boast an impressive six singles players and two doubles teams in the national rankings, come to Lexington having outscored their latest opponents by an astounding 20-1 mark, dropping just three sets in singles play and one pro-set doubles decision over a three-match stretch.

The last meeting between the two teams was April 19, 2002 in the second round of the SEC Championships. UK jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after winning the doubles point, but the Gators rebounded in singles play to go on to a 4-1 victory. Should Kentucky pull off the upset it would be the Cats’ first-ever victory over the Gators, who own a 24-0 record against UK.