KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 21, 2011) - After getting off to a strong start in doubles, No. 3 Tennessee remained in control through singles play as the Vols opened the season with a 7-0 victory over No. 51 ETSU, Friday afternoon at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
The Vols got off to a quick start to the afternoon by taking all three doubles matches. The day opened with John-Patrick Smith and Boris Conkic defeating Grega Teraz (Mojstrana, Slovenia) and Charles Bottoni (Bois Guillaume, France), 8-2, in the number one position. In the number two spot, Rhyne Williams and Tennys Sandgren knocked off Sander Gille (Kuringen, Belgium) and Jesus Bandres (Caracas, Venezuela), 8-5.
Matteo Fago and Edward Jones closed out doubles play with an 8-5 win over Juan Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Robin Akser (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden) in the number three position.
Williams, the No. 1 player in the country defeated Gille, 6-1, 6-1, at the number one singles position to open singles play. Sandgren then defeated Teraz in the number three position, 6-2, 6-3. The Vols clinched the victory after No. 21 John-Patrick Smith knocked off No. 73 Bandres, 6-3, 6-2, in number two singles.
With Tennessee already up 4-0, Conkic was able to get past Ramirez, 7-5, 6-2, at the number five position. The Vols also got a victory in the number four position as Fago defeated Bottoni, 6-3, 6-2. ETSU freshman Jorge Varon (Valencia, Venezuela) fought hard in his first collegiate dual match but eventually fell 7-5, 6-4, to Edward Jones in the number six position.
With the victory, Tennessee moves to 1-0 on the season. The Vols also improve to 25-0 against the Bucs since 1963. Meanwhile, ETSU opens the season at 0-1.
The Bucs will remain on the road and take on No. 13 Louisville on Sunday morning, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
For more information on ETSU men's tennis please go to ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's tennis link. Also, be sure to follow ETSU Athletics on Facebook and Twitter.
