University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#49 Arkansas
Vols Defeat Razorbacks, 4-3
March 16, 2018 | Men's Tennis
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Tennessee earned a 4-3 road victory over Arkansas on Friday night at the George M. Billingsley Tennis Center.
The Vols (14-4, 3-1 SEC) picked up the doubles point in dramatic fashion before finishing off the Razorbacks (8-8, 1-4 SEC) with singles wins on Courts 4, 5 and 6.
After Timo Stodder and Adam Walton won their doubles match 6-4, the point became up for grabs as the other two matches each headed to a tiebreak. The 73rd ranked pair in the nation of Preston Touliatos and Luis Valero were able to give UT the 1-0 lead by defeating Jose Salazar and Josh Howard-Tripp 8-6 in their Court 1 tiebreaker.
Playing at No. 6, sophomore Scott Jones increased the Vols' advantage to two with a 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Jose Alonso. No. 84 Jose Salazar of Arkansas then got the Razorbacks on the board with a win over No. 20 Timo Stodder on Court 1, however Adam Walton made it 3-1 shortly after via a Court 4 win against Howard-Tripp.
Arkansas would inch closer again with a win at No. 3, but Vols' freshman Nicaise Muamba clinched the Tennessee victory by beating Alex Reco 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Court 5.
"It was great to get a road win," head coach Chris Woodruff said after the match. "We battled throughout. We gotta get some hitting in tomorrow and then it's on to Sunday."
Although UT had to earn the win by closing out hard-fought singles matches, it was the initial point claimed in doubles that Woodruff believed was an ultimate factor in the outcome.
"That's the way it is in our league," he said. "Winning the doubles point, no matter how it comes, it puts you at a huge advantage early on in the match."
UP NEXT: The Vols continue their road weekend on Sunday with a 1 p.m. matchup against Ole Miss.
Tennessee 4, Arkansas 3
Singles
1. #84 Jose Salazar (ARK) def. #25 Timo Stodder (UT) 6-4, 6-4
2. Adam Sanjurjo (ARK) def. Preston Touliatos (UT) 2-6, 7-6, 6-4
3. Oscar Mesquida (ARK) def. Luis Valero (UT) 6-2, 7-6 (5)
4. Adam Walton (UT) def. Josh Howard-Tripp (ARK) 7-6 (3), 6-4
5. Nicaise Muamba (UT) def. Alex Reco (ARK) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
6. Scott Jones (UT) def. Jose Alonso (ARK) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
1. #73 Preston Touliatos/Luis Valero (UT) def. Jose Salazar/Josh Howard-Tripp (ARK) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Andrew Rogers/Scott Jones (UT) vs. Oscar Mesquida/Adam Sanjurjo (ARK) 6-6 (5-5), unfinished
3. Timo Stodder/Adam Walton (UT) def. Jose Alonso/Pedro Alonso (ARK) 6-4
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (6,1,4,3,5,2)
Players Mentioned
