May 11, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – The 17th-ranked University of Kentucky women’s tennis team made history on Saturday, May 11 with its 4-1 win over the 22nd-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2002 NCAA Tennis Regionals at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The victory sends the Wildcats to the NCAA Tennis Championships for the first time since the inception of the women’s tennis program in 1974. The Cats’ win secured their spot in Palo Alto, Calif., the site of the 2002 Championships.
The Wildcats came out of the gates quickly, using two rapid doubles wins to pick up the match’s opening point. Senior Lauren Rookledge and junior Leigh Bradwell clinched the doubles point with a win over Mysti Morris and Sekita Grant to get the momentum rolling for UK.
In singles action, the Cats proved that they belonged in the round of 16 by registering three singles wins in impressive fashion. Junior Jill Buckley started things off with a 6-2, 6-1 win on court five over Laura Ozolins. Junior Sarah Witten then battled back from losing the opening set 6-3, to take the next two in remarkable fashion, 6-2, 6-1, to give the Cats their third point. Junior Amy Trefethen then clinched the contest and a Sweet 16 berth for UK by cutting through the pressure and coming up with a strong three-set win over Mason Miller on court four.
“This was a complete team effort,” Witten said. “We knew that if we were going to accomplish the goals that we had set for ourselves as a team, then we had to do it as a team. This is a great feeling.”
The Wildcats will now wait to see who emerges for the West Regional to become their next opponent. Action at the NCAA Tennis Championships will begin on May 16 with times to be announced.
“This win is all about the women on this team,” Coach Mark Guilbeau said. “This was their goal, this was something they wanted very badly. They came out here today and showed what they are capable of and earned something they fully deserve. I am extremely proud of this team.”
AgateUK 4, GT 1Singles1. #44 Carolina Mayorga (UK) vs. Jamie Wong (GT), DNF2. #60 Sarah Witten (UK) def. Mysti Morris (GT), 3-6, 6-2, 6-13. #84 Lauren Rookledge (UK) vs. Catherine Gunn (GT), DNF4. Amy Trefethen (UK) def. Mason Miller (GT), 6-1, 5-7, 6-35. Jill Buckley (UK) def. Laura Ozolins (GT), 6-2, 6-16. Sekite Grant (GT) def. Leigh Bradwell (UK), 6-0, 6-4Doubles1. #8 Witten/Mayorga (UK) vs. Wong/Miller (GT), DNF2. Bradwell/Rookledge (UK) def. Morris/Grant (GT), 8-43. #60Trefethen/Buckley (UK) def. Koon/Ozolins (GT), 8-4
