University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships
Missed Chances Cost Vols at Indoor Nationals
November 04, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Nov. 4, 2011
BY AMANDA PRUITT
UTSports.com
FLUSHING, N.Y. -- Missed opportunities early cost freshmen Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese late in the backdraw match Friday at the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.
The Vol duo did not capitalize on five break point chances and paid the price later, falling 8-5 to New Mexico's Phil Anderson and Jadon Phillips at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
"We had a lot of chances. We were up 0-40 on one of their early serves and had two or three chances after that and we just didn't get it done," Reese said. "That was kind of the story of the day: we had chances, we didn't capitalize and it cost us. We got a little better than yesterday."
Coming off an 8-6 late match fallout against Texas' Chris Camillone and David Holiner on Thursday, the Vols generated opportunities to take the lead early against the New Mexico pair, forcing a triple break point at 2-2.
Anderson and Phillips fought off the break points each time, however, and Reese was broken when serving at 5-6. The Lobos then served out the match.
"I didn't make my shots," Libietis said. "We had our chances but didn't take them. We just have to keep working."
The match wraps up the Vols' fall season, and Libietis and Reese finished their first two tournaments together with a 6-2 record. The team returns to collegiate action Jan. 13-16 for the SEC Coaches Indoor Championships in Lexington, Ky.
Several former Vols are scheduled to compete in next week's Knoxville Challenger at the Goodfriend Tennis Center, notably including 2011 team members John-Patrick Smith, Rhyne Williams and Tennys Sandgren.
