Feb. 18, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team has earned its highest national ranking since 2003, moving up to No. 9 in the latest listings released from the ITA on Thursday.

Kentucky (7-3) cracks the top 10 for the first time since the 2003 season when the Wildcats were ranked as high as No. 8 on Jan. 29.

“There is still a lot of tennis to play, but these rankings are based on performance and are not given to you,” head coach Dennis Emery said. “It’s a sign of how hard our players have been working. They have managed to play very well against probably the toughest schedule in the nation.”

Kentucky has claimed three wins over ranked opponents this season, most recently the Wildcats topped then-No. 13 Illinois 4-3 in the consolation bracket of the ITA National Indoor Championships Feb. 13 in Charlottesville, Va. UK’s most notable win this season came in a 4-3 decision over then-No. 2 Virginia Feb. 6.

Kentucky advanced to the Round of 16 at the ITA National Indoor Championship for the first time since 2005 by defeating then-No. 16 Wake Forest 4-3 on Jan. 31.

UK claimed two singles rankings and one doubles ranking in the new poll. Sophomore Eric Quigley stayed in eighth in singles while fellow sophomore Alex Musialek moved up 10 positions to No. 29. Junior Brad Cox and Quigley moved to No. 14 in doubles falling five spots from their No. 9 preseason ranking.

Virginia is ranked No. 1 in the latest poll. Five Southeastern Conference school are listed among the top 12 with Tennessee at No. 2, Florida at No. 7, Georgia at No. 10 and Ole Miss at No. 12.

Kentucky was ranked as high as Nos. 2 or 3 in the ITA poll during the 1989, 1994 and 1997 seasons.