University of Kentucky Tennis Cat Sarah Witten inched closer to the qualifying round ofthe Intercollegiate Tennis Association/NCAA All-American Tournament in LosAngeles on Saturday.

Witten, a Naples, Fla., native, defeated Nicole Havlicek of perennial powerCalifornia-Berkeley in the opening match of the pre-qualifying round of the tournament7-6, 3-0. Havlicek retired in the second set after falling behind 3-0. Witten continuedher dominant play in the second round when she downed Eva Novotna of KansasState in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.

Wildcat sophomore Leigh Bradwell fell just short of her attempt to reach the qualifyinground. Bradwell defeated Anna Moura of Washington State in the first round 2-6, 6-4,6-3, but then lost in a close match to Nevada’s Tjasa Jezernik 6-2, 7-6.

Witten will continue play on Sunday when she will take on Prim Sirripitat of Duke at 9a.m. Witten will look to join fellow Wildcats Brooke Skeen and Carolina Mayorga whoreceived automatic bids into the qualifying round.