University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#54 Cal Poly
Vols Down Cal Poly 4-2 to Open ITA Weekend
January 24, 2016 | Men's Tennis
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- In a match that came down to four three-set matches, Tennessee's freshmen propelled the Vols to a 4-2 victory over Cal Poly on Sunday to start the ITA Kick Off Weekend.
With the win, the Vols (5-0) advance to the finals of the four-team regional to face 11th-ranked host Wake Forest on Monday at 2 p.m. The winner earns a spot in next month's ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Tennessee took a 2-1 early lead on Cal Poly after digging out a close doubles point and getting a straight-set win at the top of the lineup from Luis Valero, his first career victory at the No. 1 position. From there, the last four matches were pushed into third sets.
Freshman Timo Stodder rolled in the final set to oust Garrett Auproux 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1 on court 2 to put the Vols ahead 3-1. Cal Poly put another point on the board with Corey Pang beating UT junior Jack Schipanski on court 3, leaving the match to be decided on courts 5 and 6.
Freshman Srdjan Jakovljevic, who arrived at Tennessee just last Saturday from Serbia, broke Axel Damiens serve early in the third set and eventually delivered a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 victory on court 5 to clinch the Tennessee win at 4-2.
Jack Heslin, the third UT freshman in the lineup, was tied at 5-5 in the final set on court 6 when the match was clinched.
"Cal Poly came out with great energy and competed very well," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "In saying that, I thought our guys knuckled down and handled that situation well. We relied on different guys to come through for us. Jack H. was battling on court 6, and Srdjan did a great job in the third set of closing out the match. For a freshman who just arrived, the way he finished says a lot about his character. It's something we're excited about.
"Luis and Timo handled moving up a spot in the lineup really well. Marshall Sullivan stepped into 3 doubles and did a great job there. As a new team, he and Timo came in and stepped up."
STODDER 5-0, 5-0
- Freshman Timo Stodder has started out the year 5-0 in singles played between courts 2 and 3. He was named SEC Freshman of the Week after going 4-0 last weekend in his career debut.
- Stodder is also 5-0 in doubles, having won today 6-4 on court 3 with fellow freshman Marshall Sullivan in the deciding doubles match.
QUALIFYING FROM THE ROAD
- On Monday, the Vols will bid to qualify for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the second time from a road regional.
- In 2013, the Vols beat host Illinois then North Carolina to reach the exclusive field of 16.
- Tennessee will see Wake Forest on Monday and Feb. 7. The Vols are hosting the Demon Deacons that day at 1 p.m. Eastern. The two teams traditionally face in non-conference play.
- Wake Forest defeated Auburn 4-1 to advance to the weekend championship.
BOX SCORE
Tennessee 4, Cal Poly 2
Singles
1. Luis Valero, UT, def. Ben Donovan, CP, 6-4, 6-4
2. Timo Stodder, UT, def. Garrett Auproux, CP, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-1
3. Corey Pang, CP, def. Jack Schipanski, UT, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
4. Josh Ortlip, CP, def. Preston Touliatos, UT, 6-2, 6-1
5. Srdjan Jakovljevic, UT, def. Axel Damiens, CP, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3
6. Jack Heslin, UT, vs. Aiku Shintani, CP, 7-5, 3-6, 5-5 unf.
Doubles
1. #23 Schipanski/Valero, UT, def. Pang/Donovan, CP, 6-4
2. Auproux/Tan, CP, def. Heslin/Touliatos, UT, 6-4
3. Stodder/Sullivan, UT, def. Shintani/Enander, CP, 6-4
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,2,3,5).
