University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#75 Alabama
Vols Lose on Road at Alabama
April 08, 2012 | Men's Tennis
April 8, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Tennessee Volunteers lost the doubles point and could not regain momentum in singles Sunday, losing to Alabama 6-1 at the Alabama Tennis Complex.
Coming off a 4-2 win against 16th-ranked Auburn on Friday, the Vols (13-11, 5-5 SEC) lost the doubles point for the fourth time in five matches despite Edward Jones and Jarryd Chaplin notching their seventh consecutive win on court 2.
"I think maybe our problem was our guys thought they had a good one on Friday so at least we got something out of the weekend, which obviously is completely the wrong mentality," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "You have to give Alabama credit. We gave them the opportunity and they took it. I'm not going to take anything away from them; they're obviously on the upswing."
From there, Tennessee won just two of six first sets in singles. Hunter Reese was first off the court for the Vols with a fast 6-3, 6-1 win against Jarryd Botha on court 2, but the Crimson Tide got what it needed on three courts.
Michael Thompson beat senior Bryan Swartz 6-2, 6-0 on court 6, Edward Jones was broken twice in the second set to lose 6-3, 6-2 to David Vieyra on court 5, putting the Vols down 3-1 and needing to win the three remaining courts.
Freshman Brandon Fickey was up a break and serving for the second set to force a third on court 3, but he lost the last three games and the match 6-2, 7-5 in the decider against Daniil Proskura.
After the match was determined, Mikelis Libietis lost to Ricky Doverspike 5-7, 6-1, [10-7]. Chaplin lost 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5) to Vikram Reddy on court 4.
"The best teammates are the ones that give, and they care more about giving to the program and giving to each other than they care about taking from the program," Winterbotham said. "Right now, we need more of those guys. Too many guys are just coming along for the ride and riding the coattails of the few who are giving the effort needed. It's time they gave the same effort."
Tennessee hosts fourth-ranked Georgia on Saturday in the regular-season finale.
Alabama 6, Tennessee 1
Singles
1. Ricky Doverspike, UA, def. #42 Mikelis Libietis, UT, 5-7, 6-1, [10-7]
2. #92 Hunter Reese, UA, def. Jarryd Botha, UA, 6-3, 6-1
3. Daniil Proskura, UA, def. Brandon Fickey, UT, 6-2, 7-5
4. Vikram Reddy, UA, def. Jarryd Chaplin, UT, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)
5. David Vieyra, UA, def. Edward Jones, UT, 6-3, 6-2
6. Michael Thompson, UA, def. Bryan Swartz, UT, 6-2, 6-0
Doubles
1. Botha/Doverspike, UA, def. #8 Libietis/Reese, UT, 8-5
2. Chaplin/J ones, UT, def. Reddy/Taborga, UA, 8-5
3. Thompson/Vieyra, UA, def. Fickey/Patrick, UT, 8-5
Order of Finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (2,6,5,3,1,4).
