The Kentucky women?s tennis team will begin match play Saturday as the team travels to Huntington, W. Va, to take on Richmond and Marshall. The Cats? match against the Spiders is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. EST with UK returning to the courts at 5 p.m. EST to take on the Thundering Heard.

This weekend?s team matches will mark the first for Carlos Drada as the head coach at Kentucky. The 2005 ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year took over the reigns of the UK program in Aug. of 2005.

The No. 13 Wildcats return six letter winners from last year?s Southeastern Conference Championship team that went 26-6. Leading UK this year will be junior Kim Coventry. The Melbourne, Australia, native begins the 2006 campaign as the Cats highest ranked singles player at No. 53. Coventry won 11 matches this fall and claimed the Flight A singles title at the Kentucky Fall Invitational.

Coventry also teams with fellow junior Joelle Schwenk to be the nation?s 18th-ranked doubles team. The Coconut Creek, Fla., native also will be counted to be one of the team?s top singles players. Schwenk was ranked No. 118 in the fall preseason poll.

To fill out the rest of his lineup, Drada has a host of talented women to choose from. Senior Danielle Petrisko, as well as juniors Lara Maurer, Liis Sober and Caroline Winebrenner are all experienced returners who have won big matches for Kentucky in their careers.

Drada also has added two exciting newcomers in Carolina Escamilla and Jessica Giuggioli. The two freshman are expected to be able to contribute right away in singles and doubles action.

?I?m approaching this first meet with a lot of excitement,? Drada said. ?We have a great opportunity to show ourselves what results can be achieved when we have a strong work ethic and practice with great intensity.?

?We are looking forward this weekend to competing against two high level teams.?

Fans can check for recaps of both matches this weekend at ukathletics.com.