#18 Vols Drop 4-2 Decision Against #26 Oklahoma

Friday, February 28

Norman, OK

7 PM

University of Tennessee

Oklahoma

February 28, 2025 | Men's Tennis

Box Score PDF Box

NORMAN, Okla. – The 18th-ranked Tennessee men's tennis team was defeated in its first SEC road showdown against No. 26 Oklahoma, 4-3, on Friday night at Headington Family Tennis Center.

Tennessee (9-5, 0-3 SEC) could not pick up any momentum in doubles play and dropped the point to Oklahoma (9-2, 2-0 SEC). The Sooners rallied off a pair of 6-1 victories on courts two and three to secure the early edge in the match.

No. 26 Alejandro Moreno and Alex Kotzen were up 4-3 against Oscar Lacides and Bruno Nhavene before the doubles point ended and singles play commenced.

The Vols turned a page to start singles, as Kotzen and Shunsuke Mitsui quickly secured respective first sets, while Jose Garcia followed suit a few minutes later. Mitsui was the first to finish his match, evening up the score with a 6-1, 6-1, showing against Kholo Montsi.

Kotzen followed up on this win, grabbing one of his own over No. 123 Oscar Lacides by a score of 6-2, 6-2. This outing was then quickly countered by the Sooners, with Alejandro Melero defeating Ian Cruz, 6-4, 6-0.

With the match tied at 2-2, Oklahoma nabbed another victory as Jordan Hasson tallied a triumph over Jan Kobierski, 6-4, 6-2. Orel Kimhi then delivered the clincher for the Sooners, winning in two sets, 6-3, 6-4, against Moreno.

Jose Garcia was in the midst of his third set versus Luis Carlos Alvarez Valdes, 6-4, 4-6, 2-3, but was unable to reach a result as match play ended prior to the conclusion of the third set.

UP NEXT
Tennessee will conclude its trio of road matchups with a showdown against Arkansas on March 2 at 1 p.m. ET.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Oscar Lacides/Bruno Nhavene (OU) vs. #26 Alex Kotzen/Alejandro Moreno (TENN) 3-4, unfinished
2. Kholo Montsi/Luis Alvarez (OU) def. Shunsuke Mitsui/Alan Jesudason (TENN) 6-1
3. Alejandro Melero/Asahi Harazaki (OU) def. James Newton/Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-1

Order of Finish: 3,2

Singles
1. #31 Alex Kotzen (TENN) def. #123 Oscar Lacides (OU) 6-2, 6-2
2. #16 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) def. Kholo Montsi (OU) 6-1, 6-1
3. #96 Luis Alvarez (OU) vs. Jose Garcia (TENN) 4-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
4. Orel Kimhi (OU) def. #95 Alejandro Moreno (TENN) 6-3, 6-4
5. Jordan Hasson (OU) def. Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-4, 6-2
6. Alejandro Melero (OU) def. Ian Cruz (TENN) 6-4, 6-0

Order of Finish: 2,1,6,5,4

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