Oct. 21, 1999

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Kentucky men?s tennis team will be returningto the scene of its greatest triumph from last season when the Cats take thecourts on Friday, Oct. 22 at the Fighting Illini/First Federal FallInvitational.

The tournament, running Oct. 22-24, is being held at the Atkins Tennis Centeron the campus of the University of Illinois where the Cats closed the 1999spring regular season with a 4-3 win over the second-ranked Illini.

In addition to Kentucky and Illinois, competing in the tourney are Wisconsin,Western Michigan, Ball State and Northwestern. On Friday, UK will take on WMUin doubles at noon and in singles at 1 p.m. CT. The Cats will then playIllinois in doubles at 5 p.m. Saturday begins early for UK as the team playsBall State in singles at 8:30 a.m. and in doubles at 10 a.m. Singles actionagainst Illinois is then up for the Cats at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, UK facesWisconsin in doubles at 10 a.m. and in singles at 11:30 a.m.

The Cats have not played many matches of late, but Carlos Drada and JohanHesoun made a good showing last week at the ITA All-American Championships inAustin, Texas. Each player won his first round match but then ran into troublewith a higher ranked player in the second round.

Drada, ranked 27th in the nation, won his opening round match (2-6, 7-6(5),6-4)over Petr Koula of TCU after dropping the first set. Win the win, he advancedto face 26th-ranked K.J. Hippensteel of Stanford. Drada lost the match (7-5,6-3) and Hippensteel went on to win the tournament.

Hesoun was a straight set victor in the first round (6-1, 6-1) againstNebraska?s Lance Mills, before meeting the seventh ranked player in thecountry, Michal Chmela of LSU, in the next round. Hesoun played well, but lostin straight sets (6-4, 6-3) as Chmela went on to earn an appearance in thesemifinals.

All eight of UK?s active players will be making the trip and competing inChampaign. Senior Samir Yajnik and Reven Stephens are out indefinitely withinjuries.