University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennis Vols Finish Season Ranked 11th
May 31, 2005 | Men's Tennis
May 31, 2005
The Tennessee men's tennis team finished the season ranked 11th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's final team rankings, marking UT's highest finish since a sixth-place national ranking following the 2002 season. It also marks the Vols' seventh top-25 finish in the last eight years.
"Although we did not quite achieve all of our goals this year as a team, I feel like this young group had a lot of success," acting head coach Chris Mahony said. "I was very proud of them, particularly in the way they improved as the season went on and played their best tennis in the postseason. Making the final of the SEC tournament and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament is definitely something to hold our heads up about. Hopefully, the experience gained this season will help the returning players improve for next season."
The Volunteers (16-9) came on strong at the end of the season, advancing to the SEC tournament championship match and making it to the NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. At the NCAA Championships, the Volunteers lost to UCLA which went on to win the national championship. Seven of UT's losses came to teams that finished the season ranked in the top 10.
Departing senior Mark Dietrich is the only Vol not returning for the 2005-06 season.
