Sept. 18, 2014
Minnesota Fall Invitational: Tournament Info | Singles Draw | Doubles Draw
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fresh off the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009, the Kentucky women’s tennis team kicks off the fall season at the Gopher Invitational, Sept. 19-21, hosted by the University of Minnesota.
The thirteen team tournament begins Friday at 10 a.m. ET, and will consist of three rounds of doubles and the first round of singles. Saturday and Sunday’s competition will feature two rounds of both singles and doubles matches and commence at 10 a.m. A new doubles draw will occur each day of competition.
“The first tournament of the year is usually a way to get back into the season and get energy going again,” UK head coach Carlos Drada said. “We expect the team to play to their ability and execute the plan. It’s challenging to execute when your back is up against the wall. When you want to grow, you have to do things differently when you’re under pressure. That’s what we hope to see this weekend.”
Senior Stephanie Fox and Sophomore Taylor Lederman will begin play for the Wildcats against Northern Illinois. Seniors Kate Lanier and Grace Trimble are UK’s second doubles pair, and will square off against South Dakota in the first round.
The single’s portion of the tournament will get underway with Fox taking on Chelsea Bailey of Milwaukee and Lederman facing Ani Gogvadze of Eastern Michigan. Lanier will take on Kathleen Preston of South Dakota and Trimble will square off against Alicia Scott, also from South Dakota in the first round of singles play.
The doubles and singles bracket features a winner’s and consolation rounds.
Drada and the Wildcats are coming off an impressive 2013-14 campaign that saw Kentucky make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009. UK advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s second round and three Wildcats competed at the NCAA Individual Championships, including Ravita. Drada was named the Wilson/ITA Ohio Valley Region Coach of the Year, while assistant coach Kevin Calhoun earned Ohio Valley Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
The 2014-15 Wildcats open the season Sept. 19-22 at the Minnesota Fall Invitational. The spring slate begins January 13 in Hawaii, while UK hosts its first home contests of the year on Jan. 18 vs. the College of Charleston and Belmont.
Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky women’s tennis team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info, notes and behind-the-scenes updates, follow the team on Twitter at @UKWomensTennis.
