Jan. 9, 2009

HONOLULU, Hawaii – Newcomer Eric Quigley, ranked 37th nationally, pulled out a back-and-forth, three-set win against No. 56 Dennis Lajola of Hawaii 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 as the Kentucky men’s tennis team continued preseason play versus the host Warriors at the UH Tennis Center in Honolulu.

The No. 36 Wildcats won seven of 10 matches on the day including five singles wins and two doubles victories over the No. 55 Warriors. The teams conclude exhibition play early Saturday.

Besides Quigley two other UK freshmen earned straight-set victories. Alex Musialek rolled over UH senior Jeff Fitch 6-1, 6-3 and Patrick Bandy fought off Spence Mendoza 6-7, 7-6, 1-0(6) in a tight match.

UK senior tri-captain Shane Collins got his first win of 2009 with a 7-5, 6-3 downing of Hawaii’s Chad Rubin. Junior Alex Lambropoulos also claimed victory over Warrior Craig Faulk 6-2, 7-5.

Hawaii earned its first two singles wins of the weekend as Sascha Heinemann got the better of Wildcat freshman Graeme Dyce 6-1, 6-4 and Leo Rosenberg doubled up UK sophomore Brad Cox 6-3, 6-3.

In doubles action, the No. 13 ranked UK duo of senior Bruno Agostinelli and Cox defeated Mendoza and Faulk 8-5. Wildcats Bandy and Lambropoulos earned their second win in two days beating Heinemann and Rubin 8-3. Hawaii’s Rosenberg and Fitch won the third match-up 8-4 over UK sophomore Alberto Gonzalez and Musialek.

“Today was a good step forward for us,” UK head coach Dennis Emery said. “I thought Quigley’s win was big. It’s good for our team to play outside and compete in hard-fought competition like today. “

The Wildcats open the regular-season on Sat. Jan. 24th in Lexington when they host a triple-header against UNC-Wilmington, Wright State and Murray State at Boone Tennis Center.

Click on UKathletics.com for the latest results from Hawaii.