Wildcats Set for Matchup Against the Fighting Illini

LEXINGTON, Ky.  – The No. 22 Kentucky women’s tennis team will hit the road for a Saturday matchup against the No. 53 Fighting Illini of Illinois.  UK is set to square off with Illinois at 7 p.m. ET inside Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill.

The Wildcats have squared off with the Illini just three other times in the history of the two programs, winning twice while tying the series opener in the 1975-76 campaign, 4-4.  The two teams met last year on Feb. 3, 2015, when the Wildcats extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-0 clinch victory over then-No. 46 Illinois.  

The Wildcats are coming off a successful weekend in San Diego, Calif., where the team blanked San Diego State 7-0 before clinching a 4-1 victory over the University of San Diego.  The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA)’s No. 1 ranked doubles pair of Mami Adachi and Aldila Sutjiadi returned to its winning ways against SDSU with a decisive 6-1 victory, while Justina Mikulskyte and Kirsten Lewis retained their unblemished records within singles play in the championship season.

Illinois has posted a 3-2 record in 2016, including an upset over No. 48 Virginia Tech, 4-3, and losses to No. 17 Texas Tech (4-1) and No. 33 Notre Dame (5-2).  The Illini have one player ranked in the ITA, with No. 114 Jerricka Boone holding a 2-3 record this season, primarily at the No. 3 singles spot.  Joining Boone in the top three spots are fellow juniors that bring experience to the Illini lineup.  Returning to the No. 1 spot is Alexis Casati, an All-Big Ten honoree last season who has gone 1-4 this year with all three losses coming against ranked opponents.  Louise Kwong has just one loss in No. 2 singles this year, falling in the most recent matchup against Notre Dame.

In doubles action against ranked opponents, the Illini have had Kwong and Ines Vias in the No. 1 spot, Boone and Madi Baillon playing No. 2 doubles, and Casati paired with Daniela Pedraza Novak for No. 3 doubles.  The Illini have won every doubles point this year, including a win by Kwong/Vias over No. 25 Lynn Kiro and Alex Valenstein of Texas Tech.

Live results and streaming for the match can be found here.

Visit UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information on the Kentucky women’s tennis team and all 22 varsity sports. For additional info, notes, and behind-the-scenes updates, follow the team on Twitter at @UKWomensTennis and on Facebook.