Feb. 22, 2004

WACO, Texas -

The Baylor men's tennis team posted a decisive victory over the visiting Kentucky Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at the Baylor Tennis Center. The Bears, currently ranked No. 5 nationally, defeated the 18th-ranked Wildcats 5-1.

Due to possible inclement weather, singles were played first, and doubles were not played.

Baylor's 79th-ranked Ivor Lovrak defeated Kentucky's Rahim Esmail in a quick 6-1, 6-3, to put Baylor on the scoreboard with the first point coming from the No. 6 spot. He was followed by Reiner Neurohr who defeated Kentucky's Alex Hume 7-5, 6-1 to hold Baylor's lead. The rest of the match would not be won so easily. Almost simultaneously, Baylor finished the next three matches, with wins going to two of the three. Freshman Matija Zgaga, ranked No. 95 defeated 81st-ranked Evan Austin after splitting the first two sets 6-4, 3-6 and winning in the third 6-2. In the No. 1 spot, Ranked No. 3 Benedikt Dorsch was next to finish, losing to No. 16 Jesse Witten, for Kentucky's first points on the board. Matias Marin lost the first set 7-6(4) in a tie-breaker but pulled out the win with 6-2 defeats over 58th-ranked Tigran Martirosyan in the next two sets clinching the match for Baylor. Finishing last, 5th-ranked Benjamin Becker topped off the win, with a defeat over Nate Emge, after losing the first set in a tie-breaker 7-6(10-8), winning the second set 6-3, and finally, the third set in a difficult 7-5.

With the victory, Baylor raised their season record to 7-1 while Kentucky falls to 3-3.

The Bears next action will be Thursday, February 26, against UCLA in Los Angeles, CA at 1:30.

#5 Baylor 5, #18 Kentucky-1

Doubles

Order of Finish:

1. Benedikt Dorsch/Ivor Lovrak (BU) vs. Nate Emge/Tigran Martirosyan (UK) DNP

2. Reiner Neurohr/Matija Zgaga (BU) vs. Jesse Witten/Rahim Esmail (UK) DNP

3. Benjamin Becker/Matias Marin (BU) vs. Evan Austin/Alex Hume (UK) DNP

Singles

Order of Finish: 6,5,3,1,2,4

1. #16 Jesse Witten (UK) def. #3 Benedikt Dorsch (BU) 6-4, 6-4

2. Matias Marin (BU) def. #58 Tigran Martirosyan (UK) 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-2

3. #95 Matija Zgaga (BU) def. #81 Evan Austin (UK) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

4. #5 Benjamin Becker (BU) def. Nate Emge (UK) 6-7(10-8), 6-3, 7-5

5. Reiner Neurohr (BU) def. Alex Hume (UK) 7-5, 6-1

6. #79 Ivor Lovrak def. Rahim Esmail (UK) 6-1, 6-3

For more information contact: Julie Bennett, (254) 710-3042 or 857-4373, Julie_Bennett@baylor.edu