Vols defeat No. 4 Kentucky in tennis, 4-1

The ninth-ranked Tennessee men’s tennis team knocked off No. 4 Kentucky 4-1 at the Hillary J. Boone Tennis Center in Lexington on Friday.

“It was a great team effort and they stayed together — that’s what I take away from this match more than anything else,” Tennessee coach Sam Winterbotham said in a school release. “It was really really close through doubles and everyone played at a very high level. they competed for each other the best I’ve ever seen. It was very impressive as a coach to see that.”

Tennessee (16-6, 3-3 SEC) earned their first victory this outdoor season over an opponent ranked in the top 10.

The Vols secured the doubles point against Kentucky (16-5, 4-2) with a win from the No. 17 duo of Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese and another victory by Brandon Fickey and Jarryd Chaplin. Libietis and Reese are now 5-0 in SEC play.

Chaplin won the first singles match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1.

“Jarryd played exceptional,” Winterbotham said. “He controlled himself and controlled the match.”

Kentucky was able to take the next singles point but wins from Reese and Libietis clinched the victory.

“Hunter was focused from start to finish,” Winterbotham said. “The last point was as good as the first point. Jomby was playing well, but I don’t think Hunter took one point off the whole day. It was outstanding.”

Women’s Golf: The Lady Vols are in seventh place after the first day one of the LSU Classic in Baton Rouge.

UT shot a 17-over-par 305. Arkansas leads at 293 and Tulane is in second at 10-over.

Lady Vols senior Erica Popson is in a three-way tie for first at 1-under 71.

Sophomore AJ Newell is tied for eighth 73, senior Sara Monberg is tied for 34th at 78, and junior Chessey Thomas shot 83.

Sophomore Daeun Song competed as an individual and posted a 79 to tie for 46th.

Track: The Vols and Lady Vols track teams opened their outdoor season at the Mississippi State Conference Challenge in Starkville, Miss.

Senior Jessie Harrison placed first in the women’s hammer throw with a toss of 157 feet, three inches. Freshman Katelyn Williams finished in fourth place.

Freshman Cameron Brown was second in the men’s hammer throw in 180-2 3/4. Sophomore Deon McAdoo placed fourth and freshman Carson Frost finished in eighth.

Competition continues today as teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Missouri Valley Conference and Western Athletic Conference.