March 30, 2000

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 32 Kentucky men’s tennis team will play host to the defending NCAA champion Georgia Bulldogs on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. On Sunday, the Wildcats will host the Vanderbilt Commodores at 1 p.m.

The Cats are looking to capitalize on ranked singles players Carlos Drada (No. 23) and Johan Hesoun (No. 75) and the doubles team of Hesoun and Gustav Pousette (No. 23). Drada is currently 19-15 and 2-3 in league play. He defeated defending NCAA champion Jeff Morrison of Florida on March 26 in two sets, 7-5, 7-5. Hesoun, who suffered a drought earlier in the season, is riding a three-win SEC streak, defeating opponents from No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 30 Auburn and No. 2 Florida. Hesoun and Pousette will be looking for their second SEC win over Georgia. In singles action, Pousette will attempt to rebound from his first SEC loss against No. 55 Adam Carey of Tennessee, and up his league record to 5-1 (20-11 overall).

The Cats and Dawgs have a long-standing rivalry. Their last match came at last year’s SEC Championships in Gainesville, Fla., where Georgia narrowly defeated Kentucky, 4-3.

The upcoming week will be packed for the Cats as they play host to SEC foes No. 31 Georgia and Vanderbilt, as well as No. 47 Louisville and No. 6 Illinois. After the four-match stretch, the team will travel to Starkville, Miss., to play No. 24 Mississippi State on April 8, and Tuscaloosa, Ala., to compete against No. 51 Alabama on April 9.