College Tennis News - 2014 ITA Kick-Off Weekend's Lexington Regional Announced

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association held its annual draw for the 64-team field that will make up the 2014 ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Thursday afternoon, and it was announced that No. 9 Kentucky will be hosting a regional, with Notre Dame, Minnesota and Brigham Young University making the trip for Lexington for ITA Kick-Off Weekend in January.

The regional will take place a the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center in Lexington, Ky., with the round of 64 matches on Jan. 24 and the regional final and consolation match slated for Jan. 25.

Kentucky won its regional for the third-consecutive season in 2013 as the Wildcats knocked off No. 42 Michigan State 4-2 in the opening round, before capturing a 4-1 win over No. 17 Texas to book their spot in Seattle for the Sweet 16 of the National Indoor Championships.

All of the three teams making the trip to Lexington made the 2013 NCAA Tournament with Minnesota advancing the furthest, moving through to the second round with a 4-3 win over VCU in the opening round before falling to No. 2, and eventual national champions, Virginia.

Notre Dame and Kentucky played in the regular season a year ago, as the Wildcats took down the Irish 4-3 in Lexington. The Wildcats won the match thanks to Grant Roberts, who won his match on court six to clinch the win for UK. The Irish lost in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 33 Washington, 4-3 to end their season.

BYU finished the season ranked No. 41 in the ITA rankings. The Cougars fell to eventual regional champions, Memphis, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in Oxford, Miss.

The Wildcats have advanced out of regional play each of the last three seasons, knocking off Wake Forest in 2011, Tulsa in 2012 and Texas in 2013 in each regional final.

2014 ITA Kick-Off Weekend

1st Round – Friday, Jan. 24, 2014

(1) Kentucky vs. (4) BYU – 1:00 p.m. ET

(2) Notre Dame vs. (3) Minnesota – 5:00 p.m. ET

Consolation Match – Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014

Loser match 1 vs. Loser match 2 – 1:00 p.m. ET

Regional Final – Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014

Winner match 1 vs. Winner match 2 – 5:00 p.m. ET

For more information, log onto UKathletics.com.