MADISON, Wis. – In one of the single-most impressive victories in the annals of Kentucky women?s tennis, a youth-laden Wildcat squad wrapped up its weekend with a bang, topping fifth-ranked Southern California by a 6-1 margin at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships Saturday in Madison, Wis.

Kentucky Coach Mark Guilbeau?s utilization of a brand-new doubles lineup paid early dividends for the 13th-ranked Wildcats. Kentucky freshmen Aibika Kalsarieva and Joelle Schwenk led off at No. 1 with an 8-6 victory over USC?s Dianne Matias and Carine Vermeulen. Freshmen Sarah Foster and Liis Sober took the last four games at No. 3 to score an 8-4 victory over Anca Anastasio and Erica Sauer. UK freshmen Kim Coventry and Lara Maurer rebounded from a 5-2 deficit to force a tiebreaker at No. 3, though the USC pair would go on to win the match.

Kalsarieva commenced a strong Kentucky singles showing with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 1 over Vermeulen. Schwenk gave the Cats a 3-0 lead with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 3 over the Trojans? Matias. The Women of Troy trimmed the lead to 3-1 when Bernadette Bayani posted a 6-4, 6-3 victory over UK?s Coventry. Maurer tallied her second singles victory in as many days, scoring a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4 over Melissa Esmero to clinch the match. Less than five minutes later, Sober picked up her second victory as a Wildcat, earning a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 6 over Erica Sauer. Foster put an exclamation point on the win with a 6-4, 7-5 victory at No. 2 over Anastasio.

Though injuries forced the Trojans to play without Luana Magnani, the ITA?s 26th-ranked player, the impact of the victory is no less significant. Kentucky recorded the victory with no returning players from the 2003 squad that earned a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. Contributing to the win were five true freshmen and Kalsarieva, a junior who had only NAIA experience prior to this season.

After two tough losses in the opening days of the Indoors, Guilbeau was encouraged by the mettle displayed by his Cats.

?I was aware of Southern California?s injury situation, and it was unfortunate that they weren?t at full strength. With that said, our kids worked as hard off the court as they did on the court to earn this win today. Our team made a substantial commitment to present a stronger, more confident presence on the court, and that certainly contributed to this victory,? Guilbeau said.

Kentucky wraps up its weekend at the ITA National Team Indoors with a 1-2 record and a 7-3 overall record. The Cats return to the courts next Saturday, Feb. 14 in Lexington against 10th-ranked North Carolina.

No. 13 Kentucky 6, No. 5 Southern California 1

Doubles 1. Kalsarieva/Schwenk (UK) def. Matias/Vermeulen (USC) ? 8-6 2. Bayani/Esmero (USC) def. Maurer/Coventry (UK) ? 9-8 (5) 3. Foster/Sober (UK) def. Anastasio/Sauer (USC) ? 8-4 

Singles 1. No. 23 Aibika Kalsarieva (UK) def. No. 70 Carine Vermeulen (USC) ? 6-3, 6-1 2. Sarah Foster (UK) def. Anca Anastasio (USC) ? 6-4, 7-5 3. Joelle Schwenk (UK) def. Dianne Matias (USC) ? 6-1, 6-4 4. Lara Maurer (UK) def. Melissa Esmero (USC) ? 6-1, 6-4 5. Bernadette Bayani (USC) def. Kim Coventry (UK) ? 6-4, 6-3 6. Liis Sober (UK) def. Erica Sauer (USC) ? 6-3, 6-4