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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 46 Kentucky women’s tennis team is set for a packed weekend at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center, facing off against No. 9 Auburn on Friday at 5 p.m., a double-header on Sunday against No. 34 Florida at 1 p.m. for Senior Day, and wrapping up against Bellarmine at 5 p.m. Sunday’s match against Florida will honor Ellie Eades, Lidia Gonzalez, and Lizzy Stevens, celebrating their dedication and impact on the program.
The Wildcats are coming off a tough weekend but look to gain momentum to end the regular season strong in their last home matches of the year. Junior Zoe Hammond and sophomore Julia Zhu have shined in singles play as of late and hope to continue to contribute to the team’s success.
On Friday, Auburn (18-5, 7-4 SEC) brings a strong lineup to Lexington, led by No. 3 DJ Bennett, one of the nation’s top singles players. The Tigers also feature No. 48 Merna Refaat, No. 74 Angella Okutoyi, and No. 86 Ava Hrastar in the singles rankings. In doubles, Bennett and Hrastar form the No. 21-ranked pair, providing a strong test for the Wildcats.
Florida (8-9, 4-7 SEC) boasts No. 21 Rachel Gailis and No. 75 Alicia Dudeney in singles, while their doubles teams are ranked No. 13 (Gailis/Dudeney) and No. 45 (Dudeney/Bente Spee). The Gators have been competitive in SEC play and will present another tough challenge for Kentucky.
Bellarmine (3-18, 1-7 ASUN) rounds out the weekend as the Wildcats step outside of SEC play for an in-state matchup, marking the last home match of the season for Kentucky.
This weekend will bring a new set of challenges for the Wildcats. Fans are encouraged to come to all the matches at the Boone Tennis Center, where admission will be free for all attendees. Pizza will be provided for those who wish to attend Friday’s match. Live stats for the weekend are available on StatBroadcast and streaming is available here.
For the latest on UK Women’s Tennis, follow @UKWomensTennis on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
