University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#68 Vanderbilt
Vols Lose 4-3 Match to Vanderbilt
March 20, 2016 | Men's Tennis
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee men's tennis team reached the brink of victory but could not close the match Sunday in a 4-3 loss to Vanderbilt that started outdoors and ended inside Goodfriend Tennis Center.
The Vols (6-9, 0-5 SEC) took a 3-1 lead after winning the doubles point and getting straight-set victories from junior Jack Schipanski on court 4 and Jack Heslin on court 6. From there, Vandy started turning the momentum of the match to win the remaining three courts in three sets.
"It's been a real challenge for us all season," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "I thought once again, we postitioned ourselves with a chance to win the match. We're just having a hard time seeing that part of the match through."
After the Commodores tied the match 3-3, 54th-ranked Daniel Valent clinched the match for Vanderybilt at the top of the lineup with a 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory over Luis Valero. The Vol sophomore had led 2-0 early in the third set, but Valent rallied and broke Valero at 4-4. He served out the match in the next game.
Tennessee started the day outdoors and collected momentum through the doubles point. Valero and Schipanski won the last four games on court 1 to clinch the doubles point with a 6-4 victory, their 15th of the season.
In singles, the Vols seized four of six first sets. Vanderbilt briefly tied the match when Rhys Johnson beat Timo Stodder on court 2, but Schipanski followed minutes later with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 win over Baker Newman on court 4.
As Tennessee maintained leads in many of remaining courts, rain suspended play outdoors. Once inside, Heslin recorded his first career SEC victory by beating Alex Ross 7-6(6), 6-2 on court 6 to push the Vols ahead 3-1.
Valero had two break points late in the second set, eventually losing the set in a tiebreaker to become the third match to go three sets. Cameron Klinger defeated Srdjan Jakovljevic 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4 on court 3. Preston Touliatos was up a break 3-2 early in the third set but lost to Kris Yee 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 as Vanderbilt tied the match 3-3.
"I'm certainly encouraged that Jack Heslin and Jack Schipanski kept fighting and kept competing and got their rewards from that today," Winterbotham said. "The rest of the team put themselves in position to win the match. We have to be more positive in those moments. Less hopeful, more assertive. If we make that adjustment between now and the end of the year, we'll turn the corner. We're going to keep fighting. We're not going to give up."
It was the second 4-3 match Vanderbilt has won this weekend, having beating Kentucky by the same score at home Friday.
Vanderbilt 4, Tennessee 3
Singles
1. #54 Danny Valent, VU, def. Luis Valero, UT, 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4
2. Rhys Johnson, VU, def. Timo Stodder, UT, 6-4, 6-0
3. Cameron Klinger, VU, def. Srdjan Jakovljevic, UT, 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4
4. Jack Schipanski, UT, def. Baker Newman, VU, 6-1, 6-3
5. Kris Yee, VU, def. Preston Touliatos, UT, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
6. Jack Heslin, UT, def. Alex Ross, VU, 7-6(6), 6-2
Doubles
1. #20 Valero/Schipanski, UT, def. Johnson/Klinger, VU, 6-4
2. Touliatos/Heslin, UT, def. Valent/Binet, VU, 6-2
3. Newman/Allwardt, VU, def. Stodder/Jakovljevic, UT, 6-2
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,4,6,3,5,1).
