#11 Vols Close Play in Chicago with a 4-1 Win Over Illinois

CHICAGO – The No. 11 Tennessee men’s tennis team earned a second win at the ITA National Indoor Championship Sunday, defeating Illinois 4-1 at the XS Tennis Village.
 
The 12^th-seed Vols (8-4) won the doubles point for a third time in as many days and for a tenth time through 12 matches this season, with wins on courts one and two. The seventh-ranked pairing of Johannus Monday and Pat Harper defeated Oliver Okonkwo and Mathis Debru of Illinois, 6-3 at No. 1 doubles. The UT duo went up an early break at 2-1, before an epic return winner from Harper handed the Vols the win.
 
On court two, #34 Emile Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui clinched the doubles point by taking down Illinois’ Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck in 6-3 fashion. After holding on deuce point in the third game, Hudd and Mitsui earned a break to go up 3-1. Illinois broke back to cut the Tennessee lead to 4-3, before the Vols took court two and the doubles point.
 
Tennessee’s first singles point came via retirement, as Illinois’ (10-6) Alex Petrov retired on court one. Tennessee’s #18 Monday led 3-2 in the first set upon the match being called. Tennessee jumped out to a 3-0 advantage behind Angel Diaz’s dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Kenta Miyoshi on court five.
 
UT’s #116 Hudd clinched his second match of the year Sunday, rolling past Will Mroz, 6-3, 6-2. Hudd went up a break at 3-1 in the first and later held to go 5-2 up in the set. Already up a break at 4-2 in the second, Hudd went up a double break at 5-2 before serving out the match with a powerful ace. Although going unfinished on court six, UT’s Tomas Rodriguez recorded a 6-0 first-set win against Nicolas Meister.

MOMENTUM BUILT

The Vols won their last two matches at the ITA Indoor Championships in Chicago, building momentum entering the final two nonconference matches of the year. Tennessee won each of its three doubles points this weekend, improving to 8-2 when winning the doubles point.

 

UP NEXT

Following the ITA National Indoor Championship, Tennessee closes out nonconference play with a home doubleheader against The Citadel on Saturday, Feb. 25.

 

RESULTS

Doubles

 

1. Johannus Monday/Pat Harper (UT) def. Oliver Okonkwo/Mathis Debru (ILL) 6-3

2. Emile Hudd/Shunsuke Mitsui (UT) def. Karlis Ozolins/Hunter Heck (ILL) 6-3

3. Blaise Bicknell/Angel Diaz (UT) vs. Gabrielius Guzauskas/Kenta Miyoshi (ILL) 3-5, unfinished

 

Order of Finish: (1,2)

Singles

 

1. #18 Johannus Monday (UT) def. Alex Petrov (ILL)…