Feb. 9, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Caroline Lilley (Portland, Ore.) of the No. 20 Kentucky women’s tennis team (6-0, 0-0) was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week the league office announce Monday evening.

The Wildcats most recently faced No. 31 Ohio State in Lexington. The match lasted for six hours with five courts going into third sets. For only the second time this season, the Wildcats dropped the doubles point and had to bounce back in singles.

Lilley had been playing on court five while her teammate was struggling on court six. She had taken the first set, 6-4, but lost 7-5 in the second to Kelsey Haviland. As the match sat even, Kentucky 3, Ohio State 3, Lilley fell behind 3-0 in the third. The Portland, Ore., native fought back to tie it up at 3-3 then pushed ahead to 5-4. In the final game of the final set, Lilley and Haviland were at deuce. The next point went to Lilley for an advantage-Kentucky and she closed out the match, 6-4.

The Kentucky rookie remains undefeated in singles with a 5-0 record.

The Blue and White will return to action at home in the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center Sunday, February 22, at 11 a.m. ET to face No. 30 Indiana.