Winston Salem, N.C. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team had a tremendous day at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southeast Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 3, producing 13 wins in 15 matches. The Wildcats earned six of the final 32 spots in the singles draw and four of the final 16 doubles teams.
Senior Brooke Skeen, juniors Lauren Rookledge and Carolina Mayorga, and sophomores Sarah Witten, Amy Trefethen and Leigh Bradwell all won their opening round match to advance in singles competition. All four Wildcat doubles squads moved on as well to make up one-fourth of the remaining contingent.
In singles action, Skeen, the tournament’s 8-seed, rolled Courtney Zalinski of North Carolina 6-0, 6-1. Rookledge, seeded15th, also cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 straight-sets win over Daniela Greco of Tennessee-Chattanooga, while 16th-seedMayorga breezed by Clemson’s Laurence Jayet, 6-1, 6-0. Bradwell toppled North Carolina’s Caroline Hill,6-2, 6-2, and Trefethen bested Medina Brajambasic of Coastal Carolina, 6-1, 6-3. Witten also had animpressive day defeating Kristin Lam of N.C. State 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
The Wildcats continued their focused play into doubles competition with Mayorga and Witten teaming upto form the tournament top-seed and defeat Julie Harnois and Gizella Turbok of Charleston Southern 8-1.Rookledge and Skeen boast the 11th-seed and rolled into the round of 16 with their win over ChristinaLadyman and Sabrina Lindemann of Memphis. Bradwell teamed up with sophomore Shannon Stafford to winthe opening two rounds over Melisa San Martin and Kelly Whitler of Louisville and notching a huge win overDuke’s Prim Siripipat and Ioana Plesu. Also moving on for the Cats was Trefethen and sophomore JillBuckley who picked up wins over Ashley Rimel and Christine Weber of UNC-Greensboro and Isabel Declerqand Kerstin Stockinger of Campbell University.
“This was an unbelievable day for the team and I am very pleased,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “Theteam really kept their focus and showed a lot of character today. We really made the most of ouropportunities.”
All eight Wildcats will return to the courts on Saturday as they continue to vie for a spot in NationalIndoor Championship. Action will begin at 8 a.m. at Wake Forest University.
