Cats to Face Wake Forest After First Round Victory Over VCU

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In its 29^th all-time appearance in the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship, No. 36 Kentucky (16-14, 5-7 Southeastern Conference) defeated VCU (15-10, 2-0 Atlantic 10 Conference) by a final score of 4-1 on Friday at Wake Forest Tennis Center.
 
“Today was a good team win,” said UK assistant coach Matthew Gordon. “VCU is a very well-coached team and they made things difficult for us. As they have done the whole season, our seniors stepped up again. We look forward to an opportunity against a very strong Wake Forest team on Saturday.”
 
The Wildcats opened the day with doubles victories on courts three and one to claim the match’s first point. Senior standout Ryo Matsumura and freshman Kevin Huempfner took down Phillip Mobius and Inaki Rivero Crespo by a count of 6-3, followed by a 6-4 win for junior Cesar Bourgois and sophomore Kento Yamada over Inigo Torre Martin.
 
Singles play began with a win for Matsumura, the 42^nd-ranked player in the Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I National Singles Rankings. The Fukui, Japan, native defeated VCU’s Arvid Noren 6-3, 6-3 on the second court. After Parth Aggarwal relented the Rams’ only point of the day on court six, Bourgois stretched Kentucky’s lead to 3-1 with a 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3 win over Inigo Torre Martin.
 
In the end, it was No. 93 Enzo Wallart, the Cats’ only other senior and nationally ranked singles player, who clinched the match with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Rayane Stable in the top singles slot.
 
With the win, Kentucky advances to the tournament’s round of 32 for a face-off with regional host Wake Forest. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
 
For the latest on Kentucky men’s tennis, follow @UKMensTennis on Twitter and @KentuckyMensTennis on Instagram, and follow the team on the web at UKAthletics.com.
 
#36 Kentucky 4, VCU 1
 
Singles

1. #93 Enzo Wallart (UK) def. Rayane Stable (VCU) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
2. #42 Ryo Matsumura (UK) def. Arvid Noren (VCU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Kento Yamada (UK) vs. Phillip Mobius (VCU) 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 3-1, unfinished
4. Cesar Bourgois (UK) def. Inigo Torre Martin (VCU) 6-3, 6-7 (0-7), 6-3
5. Kevin Huempfner (UK) vs. Javier Amantegui (VCU) 6-2, 3-6, 3-4, unfinished
6. Inaki Rivero Crespo (VCU) def. Parth Aggarwal (UK) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

 
Doubles

1. Cesar Bourgois/Kento Yamada (UK) def. Inigo Torre Martin/Arvid Noren (VCU) 6-4
2. Ying-Ze Chen/Enzo Wallart (UK) vs. Javier Amantegui/Rayane Stable (VCU) 4-4, unfinished
3. Ryo Matsumura/Kevin Huempfner (UK) def. Phillip Mobius/Inaki Rivero Crespo (VCU) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,6,4,1)