No. 25 Kentucky is set to compete in its 33rd NCAA Tournament, facing California on May 1 at 10 a.m. ET in the Columbus Regional. This marks Kentucky's 12th appearance in 13 possible championships under Head Coach Cedric Kauffmann. The Wildcats have won their opening match in every tournament since 2017 and aim to improve upon their historical record at this venue. They enter the tournament ranked No. 25 after a mixed performance in the SEC Tournament.

By the Numbers
  • Kentucky holds a record of 17-13 with 5 wins in the SEC.
  • Kentucky has defeated five teams currently ranked in the ITA Top 25 this season.
State of Play
  • Kentucky has faced California three times but has not won, trailing 3-0 in the series.
  • The Wildcats are the higher-ranked team at No. 25, while California is No. 42.
What's Next

If successful against California, Kentucky will advance to the Second Round on May 2 to compete against the winner of the No. 3 Ohio State vs. Buffalo match.

Bottom Line

As Kentucky prepares to break their losing streak against California, their historical playoff success and recent strong performance against ranked teams give them a promising edge heading into the tournament.