University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#23 Stanford
Vol Tennis Falls to Stanford to End Season
May 08, 2015 | Men's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. -- In a match that featured three third sets and many turns along the way, the Tennessee Volunteers season ended Friday in a 4-2 loss to Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Tennis Championship.
The Vols (14-13) won the doubles point and then three of six first sets, but 24th-ranked Stanford (18-6) pulled out two three-set victories to clinch the victory and advance to the second round at Duke's Atkins Tennis Center.
Seniors Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese led the way, first teaming up for an 8-4 doubles win over ninth-ranked John Morrissey and Robert Stineman atop the doubles lineup.
Libietis rallied in the second set for a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over 26th-ranked Tom Fawcett on court 1. Reese led 71st-ranked John Morrissey 7-5, 3-6, 4-1 when the match was decided.
The Cardinal clinched the win when David Wilczynski served out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over sophomore Jack Schipanski on court 3.
"I was proud of their effort," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "They've been through a lot this year. There were many times along that journey they could have gone away. I thought that they struggled at times throughout the year with the question, `Am I in, or am I not?' I think to a man, they decided to be in."
Libietis and Reese still have more to play for in the Orange and White. Libietis will play in the NCAA Singles Championships and will team up with Reese in a bid to win back-to-back doubles titles.
The Vols started the morning strong with a victory in the doubles point, dealing Stanford its first loss in doubles in 14 matches.
Libietis and Reese were off the court first with their fifth top-10 win of the season. Senior Andrew Dromsky and freshman Igor Smelyanski followed with an 8-5 win over 69th-ranked Fawcett and Maciek Romanowicz.
In singles, the two teams split first sets, but Stanford got on the board with a quick pair of wins. Nolan Paige beat Andrew Dromsky 7-3, 7-5 on court 6, and Robert Stineman followed moments later with a 6-2, 6-3 win against Jess Jones on court 5.
Stanford eventually led 3-1 on a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win by David Hsu over Luis Valero on court 4.
The match came down to the top half of the lineup with the Vols needing all three courts. Libietis came from a break down to secure a win at No. 1, improving to 18-1 this spring at the top of the lineup and 24-3 overall.
Shipanksi rallied from 4-1 down in the second set, reeling off five consecutive games to force a third set. The Vol sophomore lost his serve early in the set and had just one break point in the final set, but he was unable to convert.
Reese was up 4-1 in the third set with a break point chance to go up 5-1 against Morrissey when the match ended.
"In the end, we gave a very good effort against a great team," Winterbotham said. "We just came up a little short. Tennessee was represented very well today."
Stanford 4, Tennessee 2
Singles
1. #14 Mikelis Libietis (TENN) def. #26 Tom Fawcett (STAN) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
2. Hunter Reese (TENN) led #71 John Morrissey (STAN), 7-5, 3-6, 4-1 DNF
3. David Wilczynski (STAN) def. Jack Schipanski (TENN) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
4. David Hsu (STAN) def. Luis Valero (TENN) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Robert Stineman (STAN) def. Jess Jones (TENN) 6-2, 6-3
6. Nolan Paige (STAN) def. Andrew Dromsky (TENN) 6-2, 7-5
Doubles
1. #4 Mikelis Libietis/Hunter Reese (TENN) def. #9 John Morrissey/Robert Stineman (STAN) 8-4
2. Andrew Dromsky/Igor Smelyanski (TENN) def. #69 Tom Fawcett/Maciek Romanowicz (STAN) 8-5
3. David Wilczynski/Nolan Paige (STAN) vs. Luis Valero/Jack Schipanski (TENN) 6-4, DNF
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (6,5,4,1,3)
Players Mentioned
