UK Men’s Tennis to Open Spring with Thursday Doubleheader

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a successful fall season that included eight different tournaments, the Kentucky Wildcats men’s tennis team is ready to kick off its Spring 2020 slate with a doubleheader versus Cleveland State and Toledo on Thursday at Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Complex.
 
First serve with Cleveland State is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET, while the Cats and Rockets will begin the second installment at 4 p.m.
 
“The boys have been training hard and are ready to go,” said head coach Cedric Kauffmann. “I am very happy with the team we have here and am looking forward to seeing them compete. These will be two tough matches, which is exactly what we need to get our season going.”
 
Kentucky returns two seniors, one junior and two sophomores who appeared in at least one match last season, while three true freshmen, one redshirt freshman and one junior transfer are set to make their debuts in blue and white.
 
Freshman Newmarket, Ontario, native Liam Draxl was named college tennis’ No. 2 Freshman/Newcomer last fall, while fellow freshman and Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, native Alexandre LeBlanc ended the fall as the No. 55 overall singles player.
 
Kentucky concluded the 2018-19 season in the second round of the NCAA Championship with a 4-1 loss on the road versus eventual national runner-up Wake Forest. The Cats finished the year with an overall record of 16-15, going 13-10 against opponents it will rematch this spring.
 
Cleveland State ended last season with a Horizon League championship and a 19-8 record. Toledo opened its spring schedule with a 4-3 loss at Michigan State last Saturday after a 10-13 record the season prior.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter and Facebook, @kentuckymenstennis on Instagram, and follow along on the web at UKAthletics.com.