The 15th-ranked University of Kentucky women?s tennis team plays host to its second doubleheader in a week Saturday when the Cats welcome No. 69 Marshall and Middle Tennessee State to the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex. UK will take on the Thundering Herd at 10 a.m. before meeting the Blue Raiders at 4 p.m.
Kentucky is coming off of an impressive doubleheader sweep of Murray State and Louisville on Sunday, Jan. 18. The Cats claimed all but one singles match against the Racers before shutting out the Cards, doing so with a starting lineup comprised entirely of newcomers making their NCAA dual-match debuts. Six true freshmen formed the Kentucky singles lineup against Murray State. The only Kentucky upperclassman participating in the doubleheader was junior Aibika Kalsarieva, the ITA?s 23rd-ranked singles player.
Marshall and Middle Tennessee State present familiar foes, as each appeared at the Kentucky Fall Invitational last October. Marshall?s Ashley Kroh, a product of Louisville?s Sacred Heart Academy, makes a bit of a homecoming in the morning match. Kroh joins Jessica Johnson, the ITA?s 62nd-ranked singles player, to form the nation?s 14th-ranked doubles tandem. Middle Tennessee features No. 54 Manon Kruse, who teams up with Carien Venter to solidify the ITA?s 31st-ranked doubles duo.
UK Coach Mark Guilbeau readily awaits the challenge presented by these two squads.
?These are two experienced teams in Marshall and Middle Tennessee State,? Guilbeau said. ?We have a lot of respect for their programs and we know they will present quite a test for our young team Saturday.?
Guilbeau Adds Coventry, Sober
Freshmen Kim Coventry and Liis Sober (pronounced LEESS so-BAIR) became eligible for NCAA competition this week. Coventry joins the Wildcats from Melbourne, Australia while Sober comes to Kentucky from Tallinn, Estonia.
?We?re really excited to have Kim and Liis join this team,? Guilbeau said. ?Every young lady on this team has put in a lot of work to get to this level of collegiate tennis, and these two are no different. We?re thrilled for them to join this squad.?
