May 27, 1998

ATHENS, Ga.-University of Kentucky men’s tennis player Cedric Kauffmann (33-15) defeated Tulsa’s Gareth Williams 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of the NCAA Individual Tournament Wednesday.

“Cedric came out (on the courts) focused and ready to play,” Coach Dennis Emery stated. “He attacked his opponent and quickly got off the court.” Bearing heat and narrowly escaping the afternoon rain, Kauffmann eased past his first opponent and will face Louisville’s Michael Mather on Thursday. Mather defeated South Carolina’s Vladimir Pavicevic in a two-set match 6-3, 6-1 to advance to round two.

Kauffmann, ranked fifth in the country, lost to Mather last March, 7-6, 6-0, when UK played in Louisville for a dual match-up. Round two matches will begin Thursday at 9 a.m. ET.