Redbirds to take on 25th-ranked Kentucky Saturday

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Following a season-opening doubleheader against Notre Dame, the Illinois State Redbirds will be in Lexington Saturday to take on the 25th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in doubleheader action. Head coach Mark Klysner looks forward to this match, as they’re competing against a Top 25 team. “It will be great for the guys to see where we stand with one of the top programs in the nation,” Klysner said. “We’ve had a good week of practice and my hopes are we just keep improving from match to match.” Last weekend, the Redbirds would drop both decisions to the Fighting Irish in South Bend, Ind. to open the 2021 campaign. However, the doubles team of Pol Botifoll Rius and Aleksa Lazarevic would defeat Notre Dame’s Matthew Halpin and Jean-Marc Malkowski. Nam Pham would emerge victoriously in a tough 7-6, 7-6 win in the final match of the doubleheader against Malkowski. Kentucky would earn a combination of 24 singles and doubles wins during fall competition. This would include 18 wins at the Commodore Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. The last time the Wildcats were in dual competition was during the spring 2020 season. Unfortunately, that season would be cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They would finish with a 12-5 overall mark. Saturday’s contests will be at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central time.