COLUMBIA, S.C. – Behind a dominant team performance, the ninth-ranked Tennessee men’s tennis team upped its winning streak to six matches as it trounced No. 5 South Carolina on the road Sunday afternoon, 6-1, at the Carolina Tennis Center.
The win marked Tennessee’s (18-6, 8-2 SEC) fifth top-20 victory in its last six matches, including a pair of top-five triumphs in that span. To start the match, Tennessee won the doubles point for the 21st time in 24 matches this season.
The three doubles matches Sunday were as tight as it gets, with each going to a tiebreaker. Court one’s doubles match, featuring the nation’s top-two pairings, lived up to its billing but South Carolina’s (17-5, 6-4 SEC) top-ranked duo of Toby Samuel and Connor Thomson narrowly edged Tennessee’s second-ranked Johannus Monday and Pat Harper, 7-6(7).
The Vols were victorious in the remaining two doubles tiebreakers, starting with UT’s 44th-ranked duo of Emile Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui at the No. 2 spot. The Big Orange duo overcame 31st-ranked Jake Beasley and James Story, 7-6(4). A key point in the match came when the Vols fended off a Gamecock match point on a 4-5 decider, thanks to a big serve from Hudd.
The doubles clinch came at the No. 3 spot from Angel Diaz and Martim Prata. The UT tandem battled for a 7-6(4) decision over Casey Hoole and Lucas da Silva. Diaz and Prata moved to 3-1 together this season after the win, with two of those three wins being clinches of the doubles point.
“As we saw today, doubles provides an advantage as the match plays out,” Tennessee head coach Chris Woodruff said. “I thought Martim did a nice job today and Angel has significantly improved in all areas of the game. But, what stands out is Patrick Harper. He’s been an incredible teammate and friend to all of us involved with Tennessee Tennis.
“This time of year, there are certain things that need to be done to enhance postseason success. We will continue to push onward and upward.”
In singles action, No. 124 Mitsui gave the Vols a 2-0 advantage with a straight-set, 6-3, 6-3, win on court four over 88th-ranked Hoole. The win marked Mitsui’s 25th singles win this season and 15th of the dual season.
Tennessee’s 3-0 lead was earned when Hudd defeated South Carolina’s 11th-ranked Thomson, 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 2 lineup spot. Hudd held on a 4-4 deuce point to go up 5-4 in the first set. Later, he repeated that by winning a decider to go up 5-4 in the…
The win marked Tennessee’s (18-6, 8-2 SEC) fifth top-20 victory in its last six matches, including a pair of top-five triumphs in that span. To start the match, Tennessee won the doubles point for the 21st time in 24 matches this season.
The three doubles matches Sunday were as tight as it gets, with each going to a tiebreaker. Court one’s doubles match, featuring the nation’s top-two pairings, lived up to its billing but South Carolina’s (17-5, 6-4 SEC) top-ranked duo of Toby Samuel and Connor Thomson narrowly edged Tennessee’s second-ranked Johannus Monday and Pat Harper, 7-6(7).
The Vols were victorious in the remaining two doubles tiebreakers, starting with UT’s 44th-ranked duo of Emile Hudd and Shunsuke Mitsui at the No. 2 spot. The Big Orange duo overcame 31st-ranked Jake Beasley and James Story, 7-6(4). A key point in the match came when the Vols fended off a Gamecock match point on a 4-5 decider, thanks to a big serve from Hudd.
The doubles clinch came at the No. 3 spot from Angel Diaz and Martim Prata. The UT tandem battled for a 7-6(4) decision over Casey Hoole and Lucas da Silva. Diaz and Prata moved to 3-1 together this season after the win, with two of those three wins being clinches of the doubles point.
“As we saw today, doubles provides an advantage as the match plays out,” Tennessee head coach Chris Woodruff said. “I thought Martim did a nice job today and Angel has significantly improved in all areas of the game. But, what stands out is Patrick Harper. He’s been an incredible teammate and friend to all of us involved with Tennessee Tennis.
“This time of year, there are certain things that need to be done to enhance postseason success. We will continue to push onward and upward.”
In singles action, No. 124 Mitsui gave the Vols a 2-0 advantage with a straight-set, 6-3, 6-3, win on court four over 88th-ranked Hoole. The win marked Mitsui’s 25th singles win this season and 15th of the dual season.
Tennessee’s 3-0 lead was earned when Hudd defeated South Carolina’s 11th-ranked Thomson, 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 2 lineup spot. Hudd held on a 4-4 deuce point to go up 5-4 in the first set. Later, he repeated that by winning a decider to go up 5-4 in the…
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