Moreno Clinches as No. 14 Vols Fight Past Illinois, 4-2

Saturday, January 25

Knoxville

12 PM

University of Tennessee

Illinois

Moreno Clinches as No. 14 Vols Fight Past Illinois, 4-2

January 25, 2025 | Men's Tennis

Box Score PDF Box Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 14 Tennessee men's tennis team battled to defeat Illinois, 4-2, in the opening round of ITA Kickoff Weekend on Saturday afternoon at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

In doubles, the Vols (4-1) jumped out to an early advantage thanks to Jan Kobierski and Alan Jesudason. The duo took down Kenta Miyoshi and Mathis Debru from Illinois (0-1) by a score of 6-4. The other two courts saw different results for the Big Orange, as UT could not gain any long-term momentum and dropped the doubles point.

Singles play was filled with fierce competition, with four of the six courts reaching three sets. Illinois jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after a victory on court six, but No. 34 Alex Kotzen narrowed the deficit with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Illinois' No. 14 Kenta Miyoshi.

Senior Shunsuke Mitsui delivered an emotional 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory to even the match at 2-2 apiece. Following Mitsui's win, Knoxville native Jose Garcia gave the Vols the lead, defeating Jeremy Zhang in three sets, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1.

With the match coming down to the wire, No. 56 Alejandro Moreno fought to earn a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 triumph to clinch UT's spot in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship match. Kobierski was in a dogfight on court five, 6-4, 3-6, 5-5, before the match went unfinished.

MORENO MAGIC
In his spring debut, Knoxville native Alejandro Moreno secured the win for the Vols with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 gritty win on court five. The 56th-ranked singles player in the nation, Moreno now sits at 11-3 overall on the year and gives UT another talented piece for their lineup.

UP NEXT
The Vols are set to play in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship match on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. ET at Goodfriend Tennis Center, with the winner advancing to the ITA Indoor National Championships, jointly hosted by SMU and Baylor University.

For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men's tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. #52 Tyler Bowers/Zach Viiala (ILLINI) def. Shunsuke Mitsui/Alex Kotzen (TENN), 6-4
2. Alan Jesudason/Jan Kobierski (TENN) def. Kenta Miyoshi/Mathis Debru (ILLINI), 6-4
3. William Mroz/Jeremy Zhang (ILLINI) def. Alejandro Moreno/James Newton (TENN), 6-4

Singles
1. #34 Alex Kotzen (TENN) def. #14 Kenta Miyoshi (ILLINI) 6-4, 6-3
2. #18 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) def. #30 William Mroz (ILLINI) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
3. Jose Garcia (TENN) def. Jeremy Zhang (ILLINI) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
4. Jan Kobierski (TENN) vs. Tyler Bowers (ILLINI) 6-4, 3-6, 5-5, unfinished
5. #56 Alejandro Moreno (TENN) def. Zach Viiala (ILLINI) 6-1, 5-7, 6-4
6. Mathis Debru (ILLINI) def. Ian Cruz (TENN) 6-4, 6-0