University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Alabama
Vols Defeat Tide, 5-2
April 08, 2018 | Men's Tennis
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- No. 24 Tennessee earned a road SEC win on Sunday, taking down Alabama 5-2 at Alabama Tennis Stadium.
After dropping the doubles point, the Vols (18-6, 7-3) scored singles victories at No. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The Crimson Tide (16-9, 2-8) were able to claim the opening point with doubles wins on Courts 2 and 3.
In his first match after being ranked No. 93 in the most recent ITA singles rankings, freshman Adam Walton had a dominant performance on Court 3, defeating Edson Ortiz 6-1, 6-1. 20th ranked Timo Stodder then took the lead for the Vols on Court 1 with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over No. 50 Mazen Osama to make it 2-1.
After Preston Touliatos picked up a 6-4, 6-3 win to increase the lead to 3-1, the Tide got one back by winning on Court 4. With the score hanging in the balance and two matches remaining, Luca Wiedenmann stepped up for the Vols and closed out a 6-4, 6-3 win on Court 6 to clinch the victory for Tennessee. It was the sophomore's sixth win in his last six finishes.
Senior Luis Valero made it 5-2 UT by earning a three-set win on Court 2.
"Nice team effort today, especially against a tenacious Alabama team," head coach Chris Woodruff said after the match. "We are still seeking improvement but we are trending in a positive direction. Adam Walton did an exceptional job setting the tone in singles today."
UP NEXT: Tennessee returns home for the final two matches of the regular season next weekend. The Vols take on No. 22 Kentucky on Friday, April 13, and then host Vanderbilt for Senior Day on Sunday, April 15.
#24 Tennessee 5, Alabama 2
Singles
1. #20 Timo Stodder (UT) def. #50 Mazen Osama (ALA) 7-5, 6-2
2. Luis Valero (UT) def. Thibault Cancel (ALA) 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4
3. #93 Adam Walton (UT) def. Edson Ortiz (ALA) 6-1, 6-1
4. Patrick Kaukovalta (ALA) def. Scott Jones (UT) 6-4, 7-5
5. Preston Touliatos (UT) def. Alexey Nesterov (ALA) 6-4, 6-3
6. Luca Wiedenmann (UT) def. Zhe Zhou (ALA) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles
1. #25 Valero/Touliatos (UT) vs. #68 Osama/Ortiz (ALA) 5-4, unfinished
2. Cancel/Nesterov (ALA) def. Stodder/Walton (UT) 6-4
3. Zhou/Kaukovalta (ALA) def. Rogers/Muamba (UT) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,1,5,4,6,2)
Players Mentioned
