No. 19 Wildcats Host Ohio State, Xavier on Wednesday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After winning four of its last five matches, the 19th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats men’s tennis team will have its work cut out for it on Wednesday afternoon, continuing its grueling 2016 schedule with a pair of regional foes in No. 4 Ohio State and Xavier up next.

Kentucky will begin the afternoon with a top-25 matchup against the Buckeyes beginning at 2 p.m., before facing Xavier with the start slated for 6 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center. 

Last time out the Wildcats took down the Volunteers, 5-2, on the road. Freshman Enzo Wallart closed out the match for Kentucky with a three-set victory, as the Wildcats led 3-0. The Windermere, Fla., native ran through the opposition in the first set, 6-1, before facing some adversity with a 3-6 loss in the second. Wallart responded, clinching the match with a 6-3 in the third to open up a 4-0 victory.

The Wildcats rank among the top 25 programs in the nation for the sixth consecutive week, dropping one spot from the week prior. Sophomore William Bushamuka is UK’s lone ranked singles player, ranked No. 27 in the country. The Princeton, N.J., native boasts eight ranked wins this season including three within the top-15. Despite senior Beck Pennington’s injury preventing him from playing this season, he and Bushamuka are still considered the 49th-best doubles pairing in the nation. 

Ohio State (20-2, 5-0 B1G) enters the match with four ranked singles players and a pair of ranked doubles teams. Mikael Torpegaard is the Buckeyes’ top ranked player, clocking in at No. 2 in the country. Hugo Di Feo sits one spot ahead of Bushamuka at No. 26. Chris Diaz (No. 65) and Herkko Pollanen (No. 70) round out Ohio State’s ranked singles players. Pollanen and Torpegaard make up the 13th-highest rated duo, while Ralf Steinbach and Martin Joyce come in at No. 27.

Xavier (9-6, 2-2 Big East) does not have any ranked players. 

UK athletics marketing, in conjunction with the men’s and women’s tennis programs, is excited to announce the launch of The Wildcat Advantage, Kentucky’s new tennis fan club. Members can accumulate points to trade in and receive prizes by signing in at matches they attend for both the men’s and women’s teams. Members will also be signed up for an email group to receive reminders of upcoming tennis matches. Members of The Wildcat Advantage can earn a point by signing in at each tennis match and can earn additional points for signing friends up for the club. Prizes include The Wildcat Advantage t-shirts, Papa John’s pizza coupons, and exclusive tennis experiences throughout the season.

For more information on the Kentucky men’s tennis team, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter or Kentucky Men’s Tennis Team on Facebook.