Cats Upset No. 17 Vanderbilt, Sweep Music City Doubleheader

NASHVILLE – Kentucky (14-9, 4-6 SEC) won a pair of matches at the Currey Tennis Center in Nashville on Friday, sweeping Austin Peay (4-10, 0-0 ASUN) before securing a 4-1 road upset over No. 17 Vanderbilt (14-8, 4-6 SEC).

With the victory over the Commodores, Kentucky earned its fifth win of the season against top 25 opponents, including its second on the road in Southeastern Conference play.

After an hour delay due to rain that eventually saw the match pushed indoors, Kentucky seized the early momentum in doubles. Martin Breysach and Jaden Weekes, playing together for the first time this season, set the tone on court two. The senior pair won three consecutive games to flip a 2-2 deadlock into a 5-2 advantage, ultimately serving out the 6-3 win.

The remaining two courts were locked in a server’s battle, with both courts beginning with nine consecutive holds. No. 48 Nicolas Arseneault and Matt Rankin were ultimately able to break through on return, breaking Jack Satterfield and Hugo Coquelin in the tenth game to secure a 6-4 win and the doubles point. No. 24 Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson were on serve at 6-5 against No. 29 Hoyoung Roh and Nathan Cox when doubles play concluded.

Moving into singles play, Kentucky was able to keep the upper hand and claim four of the five opening sets in the first flight. Mikael Arseneault delivered a 2-0 to the Cats via a clinical performance on court five. The freshman from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada dominated on serve and was able to bring home a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Satterfield, his fourth win in the last five matches.

Needing two more points to clinch and holding breaks in potential match-winning sets, the Wildcats were primed for victory. However, a Vanderbilt push nearly brought the match even. No. 55 Jack Loutit held three match points against Nathan Cox on court four at 6-2, 6-5, but ultimately was forced into a third set. No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault responded from a first set stumble and was cruising against No. 70 Roh, seeing a 1-6, 6-4, 5-2 and match point up lead evaporate into a 5-5 third set battle. No. 22 Stephenson held a set and break advantage but was forced into a tiebreaker.

Adding to the momentum, Vanderbilt was able to put their first point on court three, as Weekes fell in three sets to Danil Panarin, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

With their backs to the wall and needing a knockout punch to quell the home team’s rally, the Wildcats did just that. Stephenson, a junior from Louisville, buckled down in his tiebreakers on the night. After stealing the first set from No. 111 Pablo Martinez Gomez, who served for the frame at 5-3, by winning all seven points in the first set tiebreaker, Stephenson went into lockdown mode once more. The All-American needed just nine points to win the breaker, and the match, and provide an all-important point to his team with a 7-6 (0), 7-6 (2) win for his team-leading 12th ranked win of the year.

Nicolas Arseneault was not far behind his teammate on the neighboring court. Despite seeing his third set lead slip away, Arseneault delivered a strong service game to take a 6-5 lead to the changeover. After the break, the freshman buckled down by winning three of the first four points of the game and earning a second opportunity at match point. The rookie delivered a forehand winner early in the point with the conviction of a veteran and clinched the upset victory for his team.

Earlier in the day, Kentucky faced Austin Peay in a neutral-site contest at Vanderbilt, earning a 4-0 victory over the Governors. In doubles, Breysach and Weekes teamed up for a 6-0 win and twin brothers Nicolas and Mikael Arseneault played their first collegiate doubles match together, clinching the doubles point with a 6-2 win.

The Wildcats made easy work of singles, with Rankin, Weekes, and Nicolas Arseneault delivering straight sets wins to seal the 4-0 victory.

Kentucky will continue its road trip in Starkville, facing No. 6 Mississippi State on Sunday, March 29 at 2 p.m. ET.

For the latest on UK Men’s Tennis, follow the Wildcats on X and Instagram at @UKMensTennis.

Kentucky vs. Austin Peay

Doubles Results

1. No. 24 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) vs. Loubser/Tomovski (APSU) 4-4 (unfinished)
2. Breysach/Weekes (UK) def. Arnet/Lu (APSU) 6-0
3. N. Arseneault/M. Arseneault (UK) def. Van Galen/Ranciaro (APSU) 6-2

Order of finish: 2, 3

Singles Results

1. No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. Rohan Loubser (APSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Jaden Weekes (UK) def. Vincent Lu (APSU) 6-2, 6-3
3. No. 55 Jack Loutit (UK) vs. Logan Tomovski (APSU) 6-2, 4-3 (unfinished)
4. Mikael Arseneault (UK) vs. Glen Arnet (APSU) 6-3, 3-1 (unfinished)
5. Matt Rankin (UK) def. Felip de la Hormaza (APSU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Martin Breysach (UK) vs. Lucas Ranciaro (APSU) 1-6, 5-3 (unfinished)

Order of finish: 5, 1, 2

Kentucky vs. No. 17 Vanderbilt

Doubles Results

1. No. 24 Loutit/Stephenson (UK) vs. No. 29 Roh/Cox (VU) 6-5 (unfinished)
2. Breysach/Weekes (UK) def. Martinez Gomez/Panarin (VU) 6-3
3. No. 48 N. Arseneault/Rankin (UK) def. Satterfield/Coquelin (VU) 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3

Singles Results

1. No. 22 Eli Stephenson (UK) def. No. 111 Pablo Martinez Gomez (VU) 7-6 (0), 7-6 (2)
2. No. 99 Nicolas Arseneault (UK) def. No. 70 Hoyoung Roh (VU) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Danil Panarin (VU) def. Jaden Weekes (UK) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
4. No. 55 Jack Loutit (UK) vs. Nathan Cox (VU) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 1-1 (unfinished)
5. Mikael Arseneault (UK) def. Jack Satterfield (VU) 6-2, 7-5
6. Matt Rankin (UK) vs. Callum Markowitz (VU) 1-3 (unfinished)

Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 2