The University of Kentucky men’s tennis team is gearing up for their final home match of the regular season, and it’s set to be a special one. The Wildcats will honor six seniors during a ceremony prior to their match against Vanderbilt on Easter Sunday at the Boone Tennis Complex. The match, which begins at 12 p.m., is free for all fans to attend and will also be available via live streaming and live stats for those unable to make it to the match in person.
The Wildcats will recognize Alafia Ayeni, Liam Draxl, Alexandre LeBlanc, JJ Mercer, Heman Nama, and Jonathan Sorbo for their contributions to the team during their time at Kentucky. These six seniors have been a vital part of the team’s success, and their hard work and dedication will be celebrated before the match begins, starting at 11:25 a.m.
After dropping a pair of road matches last weekend to Georgia and Tennessee, Kentucky is looking to rebound against Vanderbilt. The Wildcats currently hold a 19-4 record overall and a 7-3 record in SEC play. Junior Joshua Lapadat leads the team with 17 singles victories, while Liam Draxl leads the team in overall spring wins with 29 to his name between singles and doubles.
Vanderbilt comes into the match with a 7-14 record overall and a 2-8 record in SEC play. The Commodores have also lost their last two outings, most recently falling to Texas A&M at home on Friday. Senior Siim Trost leads Vanderbilt with 11 singles victories on the dual season and primarily plays on court four. Trost and his partner, Jeremie Casabon, own a 7-3 doubles record on the top court for the Commodores, earning the duo the No. 33 doubles ranking in the nation.
Kentucky has won the last two matches against Vanderbilt, including a 4-3 victory in Nashville last season. Lapadat clinched the match for the Wildcats on that day with a three-set win at fifth singles.
As the Wildcats prepare for their final regular-season home match and honor their seniors, fans are sure to see some exciting tennis on Easter Sunday. Kentucky will look to build momentum heading into the SEC Tournament, which begins on April 21st.
