Jan. 21, 2000

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Kentucky?s top seed in the Southeastern ConferenceIndoor Championships, Johan Hesoun, survived the first round of competition inTuscaloosa with a 7-5, 7-6(4) win over Chris McRae of Alabama in the openinground.

Sophomore Johan Grunditz recorded a comeback win for the Cats afterdropping the first set, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, against Ed Rubin of LSU. All told, fiveof UK?s seven singles competitors advanced to the second round.

Also advancing for the Cats was Gustav Pousette, Dalibor Mihajlovic andJorge Mario Escallon. Pousette advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 6-1 winover South Carolina?s Rodrigo Pacheco and will face Kristofer Stahlberg of OleMiss on Saturday. Mihajlovic won on a default while Escallon won his firstmatch as a Wildcat in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, over Will Glen of Georgia.

In addition to singles action, three UK doubles teams will be taking to thecourts on Saturday. UK?s top tandem of Hesoun and Pousette will take on AndyCrews and Peter Handoyo of Tennessee. In his first doubles match as a Wildcat,Jorge Mario Escallon will team with Reven Stephens to face Matias Boeker andTravis Parrott of Georgia. Edo Bawono and Johan Grunditz will also compete indoubles on Saturday, taking on McRae and Sucheel Narla of host Alabama.