Feb. 20, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Kentucky men’s tennis team battles its highest-ranked opponent yet this season in fourth-ranked Tennessee. The border rivals will meet at 1:00 p.m. ET Saturday inside the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tenn., although the match will not count towards the Southeastern Conference standings.

UK (6-2) maintained its spot in this week’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings after decisive victories over No. 58 Indiana and Morehead State at home last weekend. Five Wildcats won in straight-sets against the Hoosiers on the singles courts. UK’s win was its second over a ranked opponent this season. The Wildcats’ only losses this year have come at the hands of newly-crowned No. 1 Virginia and No. 9 Ole Miss – both on the road.

Two singles players are ranked for the Blue and White in the new ITA men’s singles rankings released this week. Senior captain Bruno Agostinelli ranks eighth nationally, while freshman Eric Quigley stands 83rd in the country. Additionally, the doubles pairing of Agostinelli and sophomore Brad Cox ranks at No. 30.

Last year, the Cats were swept by the Vols in a two-match series during the regular season. In 2009, UT (7-1) is on a roll after advancing to the ITA National Indoor Championship Semifinals last weekend. The Volunteers boast wins over three top-15 teams this year including a defeat of then-No.1 Ohio State at the National Indoors.

Both SEC teams share one common opponent in the young season. UT lost 4-0 to the new No. 1 team in the nation, Virginia, a week after UK fell 6-1 on the road to the Cavaliers.

Three Vols are ranked in the latest ITA men’s singles poll, including No. 9 John-Patrick Smith, No. 20 Boris Conkic and No. 107 Matteo Fago.

Please visit UKathletics.com for live stats and a full recap of Saturday’s action.