The excitement at Boone Tennis Center reaches new heights as No. 10 Kentucky (3-0) welcomes Alabama (1-2), Nebraska (4-0), and Notre Dame (3-0) for the thrilling ITA Kickoff Weekend, set to unfold on Friday and Saturday. This event marks the 15th rendition of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s signature tournament, promising intense competition and showcasing top-tier tennis talent.
The action-packed weekend kicks off with a clash between the Wildcats and the Fighting Irish on Friday at 1 p.m., followed by the Crimson Tide and the Cornhuskers battling it out in the second semifinal at 5 p.m. The winning teams from these matchups will face off in the final on Saturday at 3 p.m., vying for a coveted spot at the 2024 ITA Indoor Nationals. Meanwhile, the teams that face defeat on Friday will have a chance at redemption in a consolation matchup on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Admission to witness these high-stakes matches is free for fans, and for those unable to attend in person, live stats and streaming will be available to ensure no one misses the tennis action.
The ITA Kickoff Weekend is a prestigious event where the top 15 teams from the previous season’s final ITA Division I National Rankings host three other programs. The 15 teams that emerge victorious from this kickoff event secure a spot at the National Team Indoors, with an automatic reservation for the tournament host. This year, the 2024 ITA Men’s Team Indoor Championships will be hosted by Columbia University in New York.
Kentucky has a strong track record, having qualified for Indoor Nationals in the past two seasons and making it to the national semifinal last year. In the previous season’s kickoff, the Wildcats secured victories against Liberty and Notre Dame, earning their place in the Championship bracket.
As the Wildcats gear up for the 2024 season, they have showcased their dominance with unbeaten performances at home against Northern Kentucky and EKU. In their first road match against Illinois, the team clinched a hard-fought 4-3 victory. Standout performances from sophomore Charlelie Cosnet and freshman Matt Rankin, boasting 3-0 singles’ records, underscore the team’s formidable talent. The doubles pairing of Joshua Lapadat and JJ Mercer also adds to the Wildcats’ strength with an unblemished 2-0 record.
Lexington Regional Schedule
Friday:
- Kentucky vs. Notre Dame (1 p.m.)
- Alabama vs. Nebraska (5 p.m.)
Saturday:
- Consolation match (11 a.m.)
- Championship match (3 p.m.)