Feb. 1, 2003

The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team dropped its initial road dual-match of the season Saturday, February 1, falling to the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a count of 6-1. The Wildcats took the doubles point but did not register a victory in singles play.

The doubles pair of Rahim Esmail and Jesse Witten along with the tandem of Alex Hume and Matt Emery accounted for the Wildcats’ lone point of the match. At No. 2, Esmail and Witten defeated Manuel Lievano and Clay Estes, 8-6. At. No. 3, Hume and Emery notched an 8-5 victory over Aleksey Zharinov and Chris Wettengel.

The Wildcats will resume dual-match competition on Wednesday, February 12 against Appalachian State and Murray State at the Hilary J. Boone Indoor Tennis Center on the UK campus.

AGATE:

No. 18 Minnesota 6, No. 8 Kentucky 1

Singles

1. No. 54 Thomas Haug (MN) def. No. 4 Jesse Witten (UK) – 6-4, 6-4
2. No. 58 Aleksey Zharinov (MN) def. No. 100 Evan Austin (UK) – 6-4, 6-2
3. Chris Wettengel (MN) def. No. 73 Karim Benmansour (UK) – 6-2, 6-0
4. Manuel Lievano (MN) def. No. 91 Rahim Esmail UK – 6-4, 5-7 (10-6)
5. Avery Ticer (MN) def. Matt Emery (UK) – 7-6 (5), 6-4
6. Clay Estes (MN) def. Alex Hume – 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1. No. 50 Ticer/Haug (MN) def. No. 56 Austin/Benmansour (UK) – 8-6
2. No. 41 Esmail/Witten (UK) def. Lievano/Estes (MN) – 8-6
3. Hume/Emery (UK) def. Zharinov/Wettengel (MN) – 8-5