March 24, 1999

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team avenged itsloss to Alabama in last year’s regionals of the NCAA Tournament bydefeating the No. 9 Crimson Tide, 5-2, on Wednesday.

The 32nd-ranked Wildcats (9-4, 2-1 Southeastern Conference), facing theirfourth-straight top 15 opponent, first clinched the doubles point with winsat No. 1 and No. 2. In singles action, UK’s Johan Hesoun defeated thenation’s seventh-ranked player, Alabama’s Francisco Rodriguez, at No. 1singles. Rodriguez retired in the second set, giving Hesoun a 6-4, 5-2victory. Wildcat Gustav Pousette was down 6-1, 4-2 to UA’s Mason Snider,but came back to win the match 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. UK’s Edo Bawono clinched thevictory for the Cats with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Sushell Narla at No. 6 singles.

With the defeat, Alabama falls to 10-6 overall, 3-3 in the SEC.

The Cats next face eighth-ranked Florida at home on Friday, March 26.

Kentucky 5, Alabama 2

Singles

1. Johan Hesoun (UK) def. Francisco Rodriguez (UA)    6-4, 5-2, ret.2. Ariel Rivero (UA) def. Carlos Drada (UK)           7-5, 6-7, 6-43. Tomas Smid (UK) def. Graydon Oliver (UA)           6-4, 7-6 (2)4. Gustav Pousette (UK) def. Mason Snider (UA)        1-6, 6-4, 6-25. Alan Taranga (UA) def. Johan Grunditz (UK)         6-1, 6-26. Edo Bawono (UK) def. Sushell Narla (UA)            7-5, 6-4

Doubles

1. Hesoun/Patrik Johansson (UK) def. Rodriguez/Rivero (UA)  8-42. Bawono/Smid (UK) def. Oliver/Taranga (UA)                8-23. Drada/Grunditz (UK) vs. Narla/Karim Zaher (UA)           DNF