May 14, 1998
The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team is preparing to star and serve as host to the 1998 Division I Regionals at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center Friday.
“It is a privilege to hold this event in the new Boone Tennis Center,” Coach Dennis Emery stated. “This facility is truly the most unique to play college tennis and I think the NCAA recognized this and that is why they rewarded us with this tournament.”
In the first round of NCAA action, No. 22 Kentucky (16-11, 4-8) will take on SEC rival No. 28 Alabama (11-11, 3-9) at 4 p.m. This is the second meeting between the two teams this season; UK defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa on March 17, 5-2. The Cats had an easy win on the road but the Crimson Tide was playing without one of their top players.
“Alabama is a good team,” Emery stated. “They had a player out due to injury when we played them last March. Now, we are two very even teams and I am looking forward to a good battle.”
Cedric Kauffmann is Kentucky’s number one contender in singles action. Kauffmann, ranked No. 5 in the nation, sports a 32-14 overall season record. He will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Individual Championships to be held in Athens, Ga. May 27-31. At No. 1 doubles for the Cats is the 33rd-ranked duo of Marcus Fluitt and Johan Hesoun. With a 14-14 record, they have consistently bettered their ranking throughout the season.
The Crimson Tide has two ranked singles players in sophomore Francisco Rodriguez and lone senior Chris Lopez, ranked 15th and 86th respectively. The Tide duo of Graydon Oliver and Lopez are currently 42nd in the nation. Rodriquez is slotted at number one in Friday’s singles line-up. His overall record on the season is 23-14, with a 13-9 dual match record 5-7 record in the SEC. Rodriquez will represent Alabama in the NCAA Individual Championships.
Tournament competition begins on Friday with two matches, Auburn against South Alabama and South Florida against Tennessee, starting at 1 p.m. Other participating teams are SEC’s Florida and Conference-USA’s Tulane.
Tickets will be sold on site. Adults are five dollars, students with I.D. are three dollars and children eighth grade and younger are free.
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 15Match 1 12 p.m. No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 7 South FloridaMatch 2 12 p.m. No. 3 Auburn vs. No. 6 South AlabamaMatch 3 4 p.m. No. 1 Florida vs. No. 8 TulaneMatch 4 4 p.m. No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 5 Alabama
Saturday, May 16Match 5 12 p.m. Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2Match 6 4 p.m. Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
Sunday, May 17Match 7 1 p.m. Region III Championship Match
All times Eastern
