April 20, 2000

OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Kentucky women’s tennis team fell in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday. The eighth-seeded Cats fell 5-3 to the ninth-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs.

UK was without the services of Sarah Witten, the Cats’ No. 3 singles player and one half of the nation’s 31st-ranked doubles team. Witten has been nursing a sore shin for the better part of the season and was physically unable to play.

The Bulldogs and the Wildcats were knotted at three after singles competition, with UK getting wins from junior Brooke Skeen, sophomore Carolina Mayorga and freshman Jill Buckley.

Due to Witten’s injury, the Cats were forced to switch their doubles lineup, moving No. 2 doubles team Skeen and Leigh Bradwell up to No. 1 and No. 3 doubles team Buckley and Lauren Rookledge to No. 2. Freshmen Amy Trefethen took the place of Witten and teamed up with Mayorga at No. 3 doubles. The Bulldogs bested the Cats in two of three doubles contested to close out the match and notch the win.

“I am really proud of the effort this team gave today,” coach Mark Guilbeau said. “We really stepped up with Sarah (Witten) being out and played good tennis. I think that this just shows us what this team is capable of doing. I think that down the road this match will have been a positive experience for us.”

UK will now wait to see where it will play in the NCAA Regional Tournament, May 13-14.

MSU 5, UK 3

Singles

1. Brooke Skeen, UK def. Ivana Belancic, MSU6-1, 6-4
2. Carolina Mayorga, UK def. Amelie Detriviere, MSU 6-2, 6-2
3. Carole Soubis, MSU def. Lauren Rookledge, UK6-2, 6-4
4. Jill Buckley, UK def. Claudia Oliveria, MSU6-3, 7-6
5. Andrea Lord, MSU def. Amy Trefethen, UK6-3, 7-6, 6-1
6. Anca Vasiloaica, MSU def. Leigh Bradwell, UK6-4, 6-0

Doubles

1. Belancic/Soubis, MSU def. Skeen/Bradwell, UK 8-4
2. DNF
3. Mayorga/Trefethen, UK def. Detriviere/Oliviera, MSU8-4