KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The sixth-ranked Tennessee men’s tennis team is set to commence the program’s 93rd season with a packed weekend of competition, starting with a contest against Furman on Friday at 1 p.m. ET, followed by a doubleheader against Penn (10 a.m. ET) and Tennessee Tech (3 p.m. ET) on Saturday inside Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Tennessee is coming off its fifth consecutive Super Regional appearance, tallying a 23-8 record in 2023. The Vols are eager to showcase its youthful talent as they welcome six newcomers, while returning three players from last season’s squad that reached the NCAA Round of 16.
Live stats will be provided by UTsports.com and can be found here. Admission is free and complimentary tennis parking is located in SC40 at the Kingston Pike Building. Additional parking information can be found here.
SCOUTING FURMAN
Tennessee’s season-opener vs. Furman marks the 17th meeting all-time between the two schools, with the Vols holding a 17-0 advantage in the series that dates back to 1965.
The Paladins posted a 11-14 record in 2023 and advanced to the seminal of the SoCon Championship. Thomas Kennedy tallied the most dual singles wins last season out of the Dins’ returners with 10, primarily playing at the Nos. 3 and 4 spots.
A win Friday would give Tennessee its 12th consecutive season-opening victory. Entering the match, the Vols have won 24 of their last 25 season openers.
SCOUTING PENN
Saturday’s meeting marks the second all-time contest between the schools, with Tennessee sweeping the Quakers back in 2020. Penn’s Manfredi Graziani posted a 16-3 singles record last season playing at the Nos. 4 and 5 spots.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH
The Vols have a long history of competition with the Golden Eagles, who’ve been competing against each other since 1935. A win on Saturday afternoon will extend UT’s perfect streak and bring its record over Tennessee Tech to 23-0.
VOLS IN THE RANKINGS
Singles
#20 – Johannus Monday
#33 – Shunsuke Mitsui
Doubles
#26 – Johannus Monday/Angel Diaz
#34 – Filip Pieczonka/Shunsuke Mitsui
QUAKERS IN THE RANKINGS
Doubles
#56 – Kian Vakili/Aaron Sandler
The ITA’s individual rankings next update on Feb. 8.
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
Tennessee has nine countries—Czech Republic, Ecuador, Australia, England, Poland, Japan, Peru, Switzerland and Morocco—represented on its squad in 2023.
WOODRUFF AT THE HELM
Chris…
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