spring season

Another standout performance came from Marta López Echevarría, a junior hailing from Roquetas de Mar, Spain. She defeated Chloe Johnson with a score of 4 and 3, showcasing her talent and resilience on the course. Joining Castle and López Echevarría in the winners’ circle were María Villanueva Aperribay and Marissa Wenzler, who both had to battle in extra holes to secure their victories.

The Gators are not only the defending national champions but are also the two-time defending champions of the Sea Best Invitational. They will be the team to beat at the TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course.

The team boasts two talented players in Sebastian Moss and Max Kennedy. Moss had an outstanding fall season, becoming the first player in school history to win back-to-back tournaments. He currently holds the No. 12 spot in the NCAA rankings. Kennedy, on the other hand, is an experienced player who has been an asset to the team throughout his collegiate career. Blagg mentioned that Moss has been working hard and Kennedy is determined to make his senior year a successful one. Other players like Cooper Claycomb, Clay Pendergrass, and Easton Johnson have also made great progress.

All eight members of the Cardinals’ team took to the course for the first time since The Ally tournament in October. Carmen Griffiths led the way with a dominant performance, winning her match 3 & 1. Rylee Suttor also played impressively, coming out on top with a score of 4 & 3. Beatriz Barrios secured a victory with a score of 3 & 2, while Gabbi Bentancourt prevailed 2 & 1. Hana Ryskova sealed the win for the Cardinals with a score of 2 up. On the flip side, Millie Cottrell suffered a narrow defeat of 1 down, Carly Haines lost 5 & 3, and Molly Lyne fell 2 & 1 in their matches.

Kentucky is coming off an impressive run, making it to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year in 2023. Over the past two seasons, the team has boasted a 53-13 record. The Wildcats are ranked No. 11 in the preseason, making it the fifth straight year that head coach Cedric Kauffmann’s squad has appeared in the ITA top-25.

Lapadat has proven himself to be a consistent winner during his time at Kentucky. He boasts an impressive 64-12 singles record in dual matches, as well as a 36-23 doubles record. The London, Ontario native was even named the 2023 SEC Tournament MVP after helping Kentucky secure their second conference tournament title in program history last year. In addition to this accolade, Lapadat was also honored as a First-Team All-SEC selection, building on his Second Team recognition from the 2022 season.

The Cardinals will kick off their season with back-to-back games up north, first against Denver and then against Colorado. Last season, Louisville suffered a narrow 4-5 defeat against Denver in their opening game, but they found redemption in a convincing 12-5 victory over No. 25 ranked Colorado.

Louisville will kick off their season at home with two matches on January 17. They will first take on regional rivals Xavier in a highly anticipated showdown, followed by a crosstown matchup against Bellarmine.