LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's tennis team suffered a season-opening loss to Kentucky on Friday, falling to the Wildcats 7-0 at the Hilary J. Boone Varsity Tennis Center.

NKU's Mate Virag and Jody Maginley faced off against a pair of nationally ranked singles players with Virag showing fight in both sets against No. 79 William Bushamuka, falling 6-3, 6-3. Maginley was bested by No. 117 Nils Ellefsen 6-2, 6-2.

At the No. 6 singles spot, freshman Blaine Carr took five games off Jake Stefanik in a 6-2, 6-3 defeat.

With the loss, NKU dips to 0-1 to start the season. The Norse return to action on Feb. 20 for the home opener when they host Tennessee State.

Doubles (Order of finish: 3, 2)
1- Nils Ellfesen/Kevin Lai (UK) vs. Mate Virag/Lukas Clemens (NKU) 3-3, unfinished
2- Enzo Wallart/Rytaro Matsumura (UK) def. Jody Maginley/Adrian Isache (NKU) 6-1
3- Trey Yates/William Bushamuka (UK) def. Nick Lang/Blaine Carr (NKU) 6-1

Singles (Order of finish: 4, 2, 3*, 1, 5, 6)
1- William Bushamuka (UK) def. Mate Virag (NKU) 6-3, 6-3
2- Ryotaro Matsamura (UK) def. Lukas Clemens (NKU) 6-1, 6-0
3- Nils Ellefsen (UK) def. Jody Maginley (NKU) 6-2, 6-2
4- Trey Yates (UK) def. Court Clark (NKU) 6-2, 6-2
5- Austin Hussey (UK) def. Adrian Isache (NKU) 6-0, 6-0
6- Jake Stefanik (UK) def. Blaine Carr (NKU) 6-2, 6-3