Saturday, January 24, 2009

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 24, 2009) - In a match-up that featured two of the state and region's best collegiate tennis squads the ETSU men's tennis team could not overcome the red-hot play of Tennessee Saturday falling to the eight-ranked Volunteers, 6- 1, in Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center, in Knoxville, Tenn. ETSU now falls to 0-1 on the season, while Tennessee improved to 1-0.

The 39th-ranked Bucs came out of the gate strong as senior Alex Ahlgren (Tyreso, Sweden) and Enrique Olivares (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela) gave the Bucs the early momentum as they defeated the Vols duo of Davey Sandgren and John-Patrick Smith, 9-7.

Unfortunately the ETSU lead wouldn't last long as freshman Charles Bottoni (Bois Guillaume, France) and sophomore Grega Teraz (Mojstrana, Slovenia) dropped its doubles contest to 21st-ranked Boris Conkic and Matteo Fago, 8-5, while the Bucs duo of freshman Robin Akser (Ormskoldsvik, Sweden) and junior Daniel Isaza (Medellin, Spain) fell to Christian Hansen and Jeremy Tweedt, 6-4 giving the Vols the doubles point.

As singles play opened, Tennessee stayed strong as the 50th-ranked Smith looked like the reigning NCAA Singles Championships runner-up, as he dropped the Bucs ninth-ranked Olivares in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. After ETSU newcomer Grega Teraz dropped his No. 3 singles contest the Bucs would rebound nicely as Charles Bottoni rallied to win the No. 2 singles draw, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

However, just as it looked like the Bucs regained their stride, both Alex Ahlgren and Robin Akser dropped both of their singles contests, giving the Vols a demanding 5-1 lead. Daniel Isaza closed out the scoring as he dropped a hard-fought three-set match, 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 to Tennessee's Christian Hansen.

ETSU looks to get back on the winning side as they return to action against Big Ten Conference member Wisconsin next Friday at the National Indoor Championships, in Charlottesville, Va.

Doubles

Doubles
Alex Ahlgren/Enrique Olivares (ETSU) def. Davey Sandgren/John-Patrick Smith (Tennessee) , 9-7
No. 21 Boris Conkic/Matteo Fago (Tennessee) def. Charles Bottoni/Grega Teraz (ETSU), 8-5
Christian Hansen/Jeremy Tweedt (Tennessee) def. Robin Akser/Daniel Isaza (ETSU), 8-3

Singles

No. 50 John-Patrick Smith (Tennessee) def. No. 9 Enrique Olivares (ETSU), 6-0, 6-2
Charles Bottoni (ETSU) def. Davey Sandgren (Tennessee), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
No. 103 Boris Conkic (Tennessee) def. Grega Teraz (ETSU), 6-2, 6-0
Maetteo Fago (Tennessee) def. Alex Ahlgren (ETSU), 6-4, 6-2

Jeremy Tweedt (Tennessee), def. Robin Akser (ETSU), 6-4, 6-2

Christian Hansen (Tennessee) def. Daniel Isaza (ETSU), 3-6, 6-4, 0-1