Lexington, Ky. ? Playing in its first outdoor match this spring, the No. 33 Kentucky men?s tennis team improved its record to 5-3 on the season after defeating Tennessee Tech 6-1 Tuesday at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. The Cats were led by senior Alex Hume who swept the Golden Eagles? Shunsuke Shimizu 6-3, 6-4, to match his career?best nine match winning streak.

The Wildcats got off to a quick start by winning the first two doubles matches to clinch the doubles point. Playing at the No. 3 spot, freshmen Bruno Agostinelli and Kenny Hodge won their second match in a row by defeating Tech?s Tiago Gilioi and Borja Zarco 8-2. Seniors Nate Emge and Hume put the Cats up to stay 1-0 with an 8-4 victory over the Eagles? James Bennett and Juan Carlos Rabaza.

In singles action, UK claimed victory in five of six matches. Playing at the No. 1 spot, Hume won his ninth match in a row by beating Shimizu, tying the mark he set in 2005. The Alexandria, Va., native now has 21 victories on the year.

Fellow seniors Emge and Carey Rubin each added to the Cats? win total by sweeping their opponents in straight sets at the No. 3 and 5 spots in the lineup. Emge defeated Tech?s Gilioi 6-4, 6-1, while Rubin soundly beat Rabaza 6-2, 6-0.

Agostinelli, a native of Niagara Falls, Canada, tied Hume for the team lead in victories with 21 by hanging tough against the Eagles? Zarco to get the 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 victory.

Rounding out the Cats? wins on the day was sophomore Marcus Sundh. The Stockholm, Sweden, native swept Bennett 6-2, 6-2.

Kentucky will travel to Auburn this Friday to open Southeastern Conference action. The match with the No. 36 Tigers (6-2) is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EST. Fans can check ukathletics.com for a complete recap following the match?s conclusion.

No. 33 UK def. Tennessee Tech 6-1

Doubles

1.Shimizu/Schaffers (TT) def. Johnstone/Sundh (UK) – 8-6
2.Emge/Hume (UK) def.Rabaza/Bennett (TT) – 8-4
3.Agostinelli/Hodge (UK) def. Gilioli/Zarco (TT) – 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles

1.Alex Hume (UK) def. Shunsuke Shimizu (TT) – 6-3, 6-4
2.Bruno Agostinelli (UK) def. Borja Zarco (TT) – 6-3, 2-6, 6-0
3.Nate Emge (UK) def. Tiago Gilioi (TT) – 6-4, 6-1
4.Holger Schaffers (TT) def. Greg Johnstone (UK) def. 1-6, 6-2, 7-6
5.Carey Rubin (UK) def. Juan Carlos Rabaza (TT) – 6-2, 6-0
6.Marcus Sundh (UK) def. James Bennett (TT) – 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 2, 1, 4