A trio of University of Kentucky women’s tennis players bounced back from losses on Saturday todeal out an impressive showing on the final day of the St. Mary’s Health Care Classic in Knoxville,Tenn., on Sunday.

UK sophomore Jill Buckley rolled Jennifer Jaffawalla of N. C. State 6-0, 6-2 in the consolation bracket of the 2nd-flight. Fellow sophomore Tennis Cat Shannon Stafford also won her consolation match in the 3rd-flight when she breezed by Brandy Watts of Minnesota 6-1, 6-2.

Wildcat junior Lauren Rookledge was defeated in the consolation bracket of the top flight by 29th-ranked Alison Ojeda of Tennessee. Rookledge nearly upset the highly ranked Ojeda after winning the first set 6-1. Ojeda recovered to win the next set and a super tiebreaker to down Rookledge, 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4). Despite the loss, Head Coach Mark Guilbeau is excited about the progress the Cape Town, South Africa native has made.

“Even though Lauren did not win, she played at a new level this weekend,” Guilbeau said. “She played among the best in the country and won one set and came close to winning all three today. The play here is very competitive. This is a great sign for her and our program.”

UK will return to the courts on Oct. 14-22, when several of the Cats will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the All-American Championship.