Dec. 11, 2001

The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team found itself garnering several individual rankings when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its rankings at the conclusion of the fall tennis season on Dec. 11. The Wildcat squad boasts three Top 100 singles players and three Top 50 doubles teams.

“Normally we do not get too excited over the individual rankings, but these rankings show the progress that this team is making,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “This is a great reward for our individual players.”

Senior Carolina Mayorga and junior Sarah Witten maintained their stellar rankings from the preseason in both singles and doubles. Mayorga and Witten team up to form the nation’s seventh-ranked doubles pair, jumping from their preseason ranking of No. 10 after an impressive fall campaign. Mayorga also earned a No. 30 singles ranking, while Witten is ranked 53rd.

Juniors Amy Trefethen and Jill Buckley each broke into the rankings for the first time. Trefethen and Buckley catapulted themselves to No. 27 in the rankings with several big wins, including victories over the nation’s eighth-ranked, 30th-ranked and 38th-ranked teams. Trefethen also used a remarkable fall season to earn a spot at No. 92 in the singles rankings

Rounding out UK’s ranked players is the doubles tandem of senior Lauren Rookledge and junior Leigh Bradwell. The 49th-ranked pair makes UK one of only two schools to hold the distinction of having three ranked doubles teams

“We are proud to have achieved these singles and doubles rankings,” Guilbeau said. “Having three doubles teams ranked is a very rare and extremely high-level accomplishment. I am excited for our players to receive this recognition and, most importantly, confident that this level of individual accomplishment will lead our team to a very high level throughout the dual match season.”

The Cats begin the dual match season on Jan. 19, when the Cincinnati Bearcats travel to Lexington for both teams’ season opener.