University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Southern Illinois
Vols Win Tennis Doubleheader to Open 2015
January 17, 2015 | Men's Tennis
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- With four newcomers making their career debuts, the 17th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers opened the year with a doubleheader victory Saturday at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
After a close doubles point that came down to a tiebreaker, the top of the lineup led the Vols to a 5-2 victory over North Florida. The Vols followed that performance by defeating Southern Illinois 6-1 to wrap up day two of the Tennessee Spring Invitational.
All 10 players on the Vols' active roster played at least one match between singles and doubles. Freshmen Igor Smelyanski, Luis Valero and Jess Jones as well as sophomore Jack Schipanski suited up for their first career dual matches for Tennessee, and all four recorded at least one victory.
"They're going to be the foundation of us going forward," said Head Coach Sam Winterbotham. "We love those four guys, but we've got a responsibility to our seniors and the seniors have a responsibility to our freshmen to show them the way, encourage them and build their confidence, just like the freshmen have a responsibility to listen, grow and be open. I'm seeing that happening and I feel really good after it."
In the opening match against North Florida (3-2), the Vols required a late rally from Schipanski and Andrew Dromsky in their first match together. Smelyanski and Valero lost on court 2, but seniors Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese ran their winning streak to 15 matches with a 6-4 win atop the lineup.
Dromsky and Schipanski trailed two breaks of serve, 5-2, in the first set but fought off a match point at 5-4 to eventually force a tiebreaker. They delived the doubles point with a 7-6 (4) win over Zack Goldberg and Lasse Muscheites.
In singles, Tennessee won four of six first sets and converted them all into victories.
"Everybody tells you that this is amazing, (that) this is the best part of the year," said Valero. "It's pretty nice knowing you have nine guys and the coaches and also the crowd behind you. It feels so different than what (I) am used to, knowing you have someone playing by your side."
Smelyanski and Valero both delivered straight-set victories in the top half of the lineup. Smelyanski, the first Vol from Israel, beat Caio Gomes 6-2, 6-1 on court 2. Valero was also off quickly, defeating Norbert Nemcsek 6-3, 6-4.
Libietis clinched the match atop the lineup. He rallied back from 4-0 down in the second set to beat 72nd-ranked Jack Findel-Hawkins 6-4, 7-6 (6).
Schipanski added a win on court 4 to finish the 5-2 victory.
"It was a really good test for us," said Winterbotham. "The fact that we weren't able to put Hunter in the lineup gave us the test that we really needed. We had young guys in positions where they needed to step up."
The Vols jumped ahead against Southern Illinois (0-1) by winning the doubles point and then winning the first set in all six singles matches.
Jones and junior Bartosz Sawicki, who both lost singles matches earlier in the day, provided quick straight-set victories at the 4 and 5 positions.
"Southern Illinois was good," said Winterbotham. "They competed and they gave Hunter Reese (and) Luis everything they wanted. We knew they were going to be a good team. Up and down the line, they gave a great showing."
The spring event continues Saturday when North Florida faces Southern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. The Vols (2-0) return to action Monday with a second doubleheader, taking on Elon at 9:30 a.m. and Mercer at 2 p.m.
"This is the start, the building blocks," said Winterbotham. "We have to work hard and as the season goes on, we have to work harder. It's not like you get to cruise at any point in the season. This challenge was an eye-opener for them. I think they'll be more prepared Monday because of what they did today. What we're expecting is for them to get incrementally better throughout each match."
Tennessee 5, North Florida 2
Singles
1. #16 Mikelis Libietis, UT, def. #72 Jack Findel-Hawkins, UNF, 6-4, 7-6 (6)
2. Igor Smelyanski, UT, def. Caio Gomes, UNF, 6-2, 6-1
3. Luis Valero, UT, def. Norbert Nemcsek, UNF, 6-3, 6-4
4. Jack Schipanski, UT, def. Yannick Zuern, UNF, 6-1, 6-7 (8), [11-9]
5. Lasse Muscheites, UNF, def. Bartosz Sawicki, UT, 6-0, 7-6 (3)
6. Julian Bradley, UNF, def. Jess Jones, UT, 6-2, 6-2
Doubles
1. #2 Mikelis Libietis/Hunter Reese, UT, def. #28 Jack Findel-Hawkins/Norbert Nemcsek, UNF, 6-4
2. Caio Gomes/Yannick Zuern, UNF, def. Luis Valero/Igor Smelyanski, UT, 6-3
3. Andrew Dromsky/Jack Schipanski, UT, def. Zack Goldberg/Lasse Muscheites, UNF, 7-6 (4)
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,3,6,5,1,4).
Tennessee 6, Southern Illinois 1
Singles
1. Hunter Reese, UT, def. Jonny Rigby, SIU, 6-4, 6-3
2. Luis Valero, UT, def. Michal Kianicka 6-3, 7-6 (6)
3. Brandon Fickey, UT, def. Szymon Opieczonek, SIU, 6-3, 6-2
4. Jess Jones, UT, def. Alex Pozo, SIU, 6-3, 6-1
5. Bartosz Sawicki, UT, def. Max Phipps, SIU, 6-3, 6-1
6. Peter Molloy, SIU, def. Sunay Bhat, UT, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. Jonny Rigby/Michal Kianicki, SIU, def. Fickey/Libietis, UT, 6-2
2. Valero/Smelyanski, UT, def. Opieczonek/Braaten, SIU, 6-2
3. Dromsky/Schipanski, UT, def. Pozo/Phipps, SIU, 6-3
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,3,4,1,2,6)
Players Mentioned
