Diaz Clinches as #6 Vols Advance to Fourth Consecutive ITA National Indoor Championship

Sunday, January 28

Knoxville, TN

TBD

University of Tennessee

RV Oklahoma

Diaz Clinches as #6 Vols Advance to Fourth Consecutive ITA National Indoor Championship

January 28, 2024 | Men's Tennis

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Tennessee men's tennis team advanced to its fourth consecutive ITA National Indoor Championship behind graduate Angel Diaz's 7-6(5), 6-3 clinching effort to beat Oklahoma, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon inside Goodfriend Tennis Center.

Diaz battled in his first set vs. Oklahoma's Mark Mandlik, winning his tiebreaker 7-5 at 6-all. The Manabi, Ecuador, native gained momentum in his second set, taking 85 percent of his first serve points to win 6-3, securing the straight-set victory.

UT (7-0) took the doubles point in an intense battle with the Sooners (5-1). The 34th-ranked duo of Shunsuke Mitsui and Filip Pieczonka took the first win in 6-3 fashion over OU's Mandlik and Nathan Han. Younes Lalami and Filip Apltauer delivered the clinching point in a gritty 7-5 victory over the Sooners' Jordan Hasson and Luis Alvarez. Johannus Monday and Diaz, ranked 26th in doubles, were tied 6-all before the match went unfinished.

No. 20 Monday took care of business in singles, routing No. 91 Alex Martinez in an impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory atop the lineup, winning 80 percent of his total serve points to record his fourth win over a ranked opponent in four consecutive matches. No. 33 Mitsui gave UT a 3-1 advantage after taking down Justin Schlageter, 7-6(4), 6-0. Oklahoma gained its only point of the match with a win on court three, followed by Diaz's clinching performance.

"One thing about this team is that we have nine players from nine different countries," said associate head coach James McKie. "Every year is different, but it's clear they are truly starting to play for each other. Today was a good win, but it's back to work. We are improving every day which is exciting. Now we go on the road for the next few weeks and I can't wait to compete."

HEADED TO THE BIG APPLE
The Vols have now qualified for four consecutive ITA National Indoor Team Championships. The last time Tennessee advanced out of the ITA Kickoff Weekend four years in a row was during a six-year stretch of qualifying for the event from 2009-14. The 2024 ITA Indoor Championships are set to be held in New York City and run Feb. 16-19.

HOT START FOR SHUN
Shunsuke Mitsui is off to an impressive 11-0 start on the singles courts, dating to fall action. The junior has defeated three ranked opponents while holding the longest winning streak of the 2023-24 squad. With his win over OU's Schlageter, Mitsui tied his career-best win streak of 11, which he's now accomplished three times, the last being 3/16/23-4/22/23.

UNDEFEATED IN SINGLES
Johannus Monday and Shunsuke Mitsui, who both recorded wins vs. OU, along with Filip Pieczonka, whose match went unfinished, are all undefeated in singles competition through UT's first seven matches of the dual season.

UP NEXT
Tennessee will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for a top-six matchup vs. No. 5 TCU on Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. ET.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. #26 Johannus Monday/Angel Diaz (TENN) vs. Alex Martinez/Kholo Montsi (OU) 6-6 (1-0), unfinished
2. #34 Shunsuke Mitsui/Filip Pieczonka (TENN) def. Mark Mandlik/Nathan Han (OU) 6-3
3. Younes Lalami/Filip Apltauer (TENN) def. Jordan Hasson/Luis Alvarez (OU) 7-5

Order of Finish: 2,3

Singles
1. #20 Johannus Monday (TENN) def. #91 Alex Martinez (OU) 6-2, 6-0
2. #33 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) def. Justin Schlageter (OU) 7-6(4), 6-0
3. Jordan Hasson (OU) def. Younes Lalami (TENN) 6-4, 6-4
4. Filip Pieczonka (TENN) vs. #125 Kholo Montsi (OU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
5. Filip Apltauer (TENN) vs. #89 Luis Alvarez (OU) 6-4, 5-4, unfinished
6. Angel Diaz (TENN) def. Mark Mandlik (OU) 7-6(5), 6-3

Order of Finish: 1,2,3,6

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