University of Tennessee Athletics
Omni Hotels Region III Championships Open at Varsity Tennis Center
October 25, 2001 | Men's Tennis
Oct. 25, 2001
The Tennis Vols began play Thursday as hosts of the Omni Hotels Region III Championships at the Varsity Tennis Center on the UT campus. The Region III tournament features some of the best players from the around the Southeast and the players did nothing to disappoint Thursday. With beautiful skies and the Goodyear blimp passing by overhead, the Vols and players from 34 other institutions played inspired tennis.
Tennessee head coach Michael Fancutt and assistant coach Chris Mahony were very instrumental in bringing this event to Knoxville and both seemed pleased with the results of the first day. "This is probably the biggest tournament we have ever hosted here at UT," Fancutt said. "That the event has run so smoothly and has been such a success thus far is a credit to Chris Mahony and the rest of the staff here at the University."
Day one of the event saw very few surprises as only six of the 32 seeded players were eliminated. The biggest upset of the day however, belonged to Tennessee's Mark Dietrich. The freshman has been on a roll as off late and he continued his run with two victories Thursday. The second win coming against No. 7-seeded and No. 33-ranked Rene Combette of Mississippi State. Dietrich won the match 6-3, 7-6 en route to the third round and ran his record to 13-5 on the season. "I feel I am playing at a good level right now," Dietrich said confidently. "I am starting to do the little things better and it is definitely making a difference."
Tennessee senior Mario Toledo and freshman Simon Rea also advanced to the third round Thursday. Toledo, the tournament's No. 2 seed, received a first round bye before downing Birmingham Southern's Nils Hanchen 6-4, 6-2. Rea, a 17-32 seed for the event, also had the first round off before taking a hard fought three-set victory over Ole Miss' Martin Selin 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 and raising his season record to 17-7. "Mario (Toledo) and Simon (Rea) did not play their best tennis to open their matches today, but they still got the job done," Fancutt stated. "Anyone can win when they are playing well, but it takes a lot to win when you aren't playing that well. These guys showed today the kind of fight we are looking for."
Tennessee's Andy Crews and Michael Maddox both began the day with first round victories before falling in round two. Crews started with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Auburn's Raitis Tukans, before suffering a 6-1, 6-3 loss to 17-32 seed Gustav Pousette of Kentucky. Maddox first defeated Samford's David Misner 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, before a 7-6, 6-3 setback against 52-ranked Paco Antelo of South Florida. Tennessee sophomore Wade Orr, a 17-32 seed, lost his second round match 6-4, 6-4 to Alabama's Christian Broderson after receiving a first round bye.
The Vols will be back in action Friday as Toledo, Rea and Dietrich continue on in the singles draw, while all six available Vols will begin play in the doubles event. Play will begin at 8 A.M. Friday at the Varsity Tennis Center and admission will be free.
| Omni Hotels Region III Championships Results |
| (Tennessee results only |
| Singles |
| 1st round |
| Michael Maddox (UT) def. David Misner (Samford) 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 |
| Mark Dietrich (UT) def. Michael Ray Pallares (Ala.) 6-4, 6-0 |
| Andy Crews (UT) def. Raitis Tukans (Aub.) 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2nd round |
| Simon Rea (UT) def. Martin Selin (Ole Miss) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 |
| Mark Dietrich (UT) def. Rene Combette (Miss. St.) 6-3, 7-6 |
| Mario Toledo (UT) def. Nils Hanchen (B'ham So.) 6-4, 6-2 |
| Gustav Pousette (UK) def. Andy Crews (UT) 6-1, 6-3 |
| Christian Broderson (Ala.) def. Wade Orr (UT) 6-4, 6-4 |
| Paco Antelo (USF) def. Michael Maddox (UT) 7-6, 6-3 |
