LEXINGTON, Ky. – Santa Clara men's tennis made their first appearance at the ITA Kickoff Weekend since 2020 and the sixth overall, faced nationally ranked Kentucky on their home court and fell 4-0 inside the Hilary J. Boone Indoor Tennis Center.  

The Broncos qualified for the ITA Kickoff Weekend based on their 2024 year-end rankings (No. 59) and was provided an opportunity to qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.  

SCU will now face the loser of the Nebraska-Arizona State match, who will be playing later on Friday, in the consolation bracket while Kentucky will play the winner. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• No. 12 Kentucky (3-1) took the doubles point with a pair of 6-3 wins on courts three and two.  At three, the Wildcat tandem of Charlelie Cosnet and Antoine Ghibaudo beat Tiago Boschmans and Valentin Faure.  Jack Loutit and Eli Stephenson clinched it with their victory over Alex Watanabe Eriksson and Luca Lemaitre on court two.  
• In singles, they played on four courts with the top four in the lineup going first.  
• Loutit gave the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage, downing Lucas Maskow 6-0, 6-1 on court two.
• Kentucky extended their lead to 3-0 courtesy of Stephenson on court four, beating Luca Bluett 6-4, 6-3.  
• Playing atop the singles lineup, Ghibaudo clinched the match 6-3, 7-5 over Watanabe Eriksson.  
• Santa Clara dropped to 1-2 on the season.  

• Santa Clara plays the loser of the Nebraska versus No. 20 Arizona State match in the consolation match on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT.