Feb. 6, 2003

Madison, Wis. – The 34th-ranked University of Kentucky women’s tennis team lost to the fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils in the opening round of the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships at Wisconsin’s A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Thursday, Feb. 6. UK (3-3) put up a valiant attack in the loss to the Blue Devils (5-0) before falling, 6-1.

In doubles, 17th-ranked Jill Buckley and Amy Trefethen, of UK, fought hard against Duke’s 17th-ranked duo of Julie DeRoo and Amanda Johnson before falling 8-6. The Cats’ Leigh Bradwell and Shannon Stafford took 49th-ranked Katie Granson and Julia Smith to the brink of an 8-7(6) loss before Duke secured the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.

In singles, UK’s 48th-ranked Nathalie Roels won the first set of her match with 15th-ranked Amanda Johnson, 6-1. Roels fell, 7-5, in a tough second set and was unable to recover, dropping the third and final set 6-0. UK was able to pull within 3-1 when freshman Shannon Stough defeated No. 43 Saras Arasu in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. That would be the only point the Cats would win as the Devils held off tough charges by Jill Buckley and Shannon Stafford at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions.

With their win, Duke advances to the quarterfinals of the National Indoors for the eighth consecutive year. This was UK’s first visit to the elite tournament under Coach Mark Guilbeau, who began coaching the Cats in 1997. UK was last selected to the tournament in 1995.

The Cats are back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 12, when they host Indiana at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.

Agate:

Singles
1. #2 Kelly McCain (DU) def. #37 Sarah Witten (UK) 6-1; 6-2
2. #15 Amanda Johnson (DU) def. #48 Nathalie Roels (UK) 1-6; 7-5; 6-0
3. #36 Julie DeRoo (DU) def. Jill Buckley (UK) 6-3; 7-6(2)
4. #81 Katie Blaszak (DU) def. Shannon Stafford (UK) 7-6(4); 6-2
5. #98 Katie Granson (DU) def. Amy Trefethen (UK) 6-2; 6-4
6. Shannon Stough (UK) def. #43 Saras Arasu (DU) 3-6; 6-2; 6-1

Doubles
1. #13 McCain/Adams (DU) def. #10 Witten/Roels (UK) 8-2
2. #11 DeRoo/Johnson (DU) def. #17 Buckley/Trefethen 8-6
3. #49 Granson/Smith (DU) def. Bradwell/Stafford (UK) 8-7(6)