University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, March 9
Knoxville
1 PM
University of Tennessee
4
vs
3
Kentucky
Moreno Clinches as #19 Vols Tame Kentucky, 4-3
March 09, 2025 | Men's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 19 Tennessee men's tennis team rallied to defeat Kentucky, 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium.
"There was no doubt that playing at home helped us today," said head coach Chris Woodruff. "The fans here are unbelievable. We get a lot of people here for tennis. I have no doubt that today the crowd was a really big factor."
Tennessee (11-5, 2-3 SEC) found success early and often in doubles, as all three courts jumped out to early advantages favoring UT. Alan Jesudason and Shunsuke Mitsui were the first duo to break through, defeating Jaden Weekes and Charlelie Cosnet from Kentucky (9-6, 2-3 SEC), 6-2. The Wildcats made the remaining two courts competitive, but the Big Orange found a way to keep the momentum as Jose Garcia and Jan Kobierski secured a win against Martin Breysach and Matt Rankin, 6-4.
The 11th-ranked pairing in the nation of Alex Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno were up on Eli Stephenson and Jack Loutit, 5-4, but were unable to finish their match before the Vols clinched the doubles point.
Singles play saw continuous back-and-forth action to start, both teams fired off singles wins to start. No. 25 Mitsui was the first to finish their match, as he raced by No. 53 Weekes, 6-3, 6-2. Kentucky came back with a victory on court five to put the match at 2-1 in favor of Tennessee.
The Wildcats proceeded to earn two more wins in quick succession to give them a 3-2 advantage and at the doorstep of clinching the match. Two remaining individuals were left, as Moreno and Ian Cruz were fighting on courts four and six to keep the match alive.
Cruz, in his third set after posting a 6-3, 4-6 score in the first two frames, beat Crivei with a 6-0 bagel in the third set to put the scoring even at 3-3 and give Tennessee the momentum that would only need to briefly continue. A few minutes after Cruz's victory on court six, Moreno completed his 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback triumph over Eli Stephenson to secure the victory.
MITSUI MAKING MOVES
With today's singles win, senior Shunsuke Mitsui moves into sole possession of seventh in school history for singles victories in a career. The Shizuoka, Japan, native has earned 118 triumphs on his career, passing recent VFL Luca Wiedenmann (2016-21).
DOUBLES HEATING UP
With today's doubles win, the Vols have acquired the doubles point for the 10th time on the season. Tennessee is 10-1 on the year when the doubles point swings in it's favor, and the past two matches have seen the early advantage gained by UT.
UP NEXT
The Vols are set to continue their home stretch with a pair of matches, playing host to Ole Miss (March 13) and LSU (March 15).
RESULTS
Doubles
1. #11 Alex Kotzen/Alejandro Moreno (TENN) vs. Eli Stephenson/Jack Loutit (UK) 5-4, unfinished
2. Shunsuke Mitsui/Alan Jesudason (TENN) def. Jaden Weekes/Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-2
3. Jan Kobierski/Jose Garcia (TENN) def. Martin Breysach/Matt Rankin (UK) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,3
Singles
1. #25 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) def. #53 Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-3, 6-2
2. #121 Jack Loutit (UK) def. #29 Alex Kotzen (TENN) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
3. #105 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Jose Garcia (TENN) 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-2
4. Alejandro Moreno (TENN) def. Eli Stephenson (UK) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Matt Rankin (UK) def. Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ian Cruz (TENN) def. Eric Crivei (UK) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
Order of Finish: 1,5,2,3,6,4
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men's tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
"There was no doubt that playing at home helped us today," said head coach Chris Woodruff. "The fans here are unbelievable. We get a lot of people here for tennis. I have no doubt that today the crowd was a really big factor."
Tennessee (11-5, 2-3 SEC) found success early and often in doubles, as all three courts jumped out to early advantages favoring UT. Alan Jesudason and Shunsuke Mitsui were the first duo to break through, defeating Jaden Weekes and Charlelie Cosnet from Kentucky (9-6, 2-3 SEC), 6-2. The Wildcats made the remaining two courts competitive, but the Big Orange found a way to keep the momentum as Jose Garcia and Jan Kobierski secured a win against Martin Breysach and Matt Rankin, 6-4.
The 11th-ranked pairing in the nation of Alex Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno were up on Eli Stephenson and Jack Loutit, 5-4, but were unable to finish their match before the Vols clinched the doubles point.
Singles play saw continuous back-and-forth action to start, both teams fired off singles wins to start. No. 25 Mitsui was the first to finish their match, as he raced by No. 53 Weekes, 6-3, 6-2. Kentucky came back with a victory on court five to put the match at 2-1 in favor of Tennessee.
The Wildcats proceeded to earn two more wins in quick succession to give them a 3-2 advantage and at the doorstep of clinching the match. Two remaining individuals were left, as Moreno and Ian Cruz were fighting on courts four and six to keep the match alive.
Cruz, in his third set after posting a 6-3, 4-6 score in the first two frames, beat Crivei with a 6-0 bagel in the third set to put the scoring even at 3-3 and give Tennessee the momentum that would only need to briefly continue. A few minutes after Cruz's victory on court six, Moreno completed his 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback triumph over Eli Stephenson to secure the victory.
MITSUI MAKING MOVES
With today's singles win, senior Shunsuke Mitsui moves into sole possession of seventh in school history for singles victories in a career. The Shizuoka, Japan, native has earned 118 triumphs on his career, passing recent VFL Luca Wiedenmann (2016-21).
DOUBLES HEATING UP
With today's doubles win, the Vols have acquired the doubles point for the 10th time on the season. Tennessee is 10-1 on the year when the doubles point swings in it's favor, and the past two matches have seen the early advantage gained by UT.
UP NEXT
The Vols are set to continue their home stretch with a pair of matches, playing host to Ole Miss (March 13) and LSU (March 15).
RESULTS
Doubles
1. #11 Alex Kotzen/Alejandro Moreno (TENN) vs. Eli Stephenson/Jack Loutit (UK) 5-4, unfinished
2. Shunsuke Mitsui/Alan Jesudason (TENN) def. Jaden Weekes/Charlelie Cosnet (UK) 6-2
3. Jan Kobierski/Jose Garcia (TENN) def. Martin Breysach/Matt Rankin (UK) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,3
Singles
1. #25 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) def. #53 Jaden Weekes (UK) 6-3, 6-2
2. #121 Jack Loutit (UK) def. #29 Alex Kotzen (TENN) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
3. #105 Charlelie Cosnet (UK) def. Jose Garcia (TENN) 7-6 (7-3), 0-6, 6-2
4. Alejandro Moreno (TENN) def. Eli Stephenson (UK) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Matt Rankin (UK) def. Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-2, 6-2
6. Ian Cruz (TENN) def. Eric Crivei (UK) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
Order of Finish: 1,5,2,3,6,4
For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee men's tennis on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Jaden Weekes / 0 (53/-) [UK]
32
66
#2 Singles Match
12
Jack Loutit / 0 (121/-) [UK]
76
63
#3 Singles Match
123
Charlelie Cosnet / 0 (105/-) [UK]
706
662
#4 Singles Match
123
Eli Stephenson / 0 [UK]
634
166
#5 Singles Match
12
Matt Rankin / 0 [UK]
66
22
#6 Singles Match
123
Eric Crivei / 0 [UK]
360
646
Order of Finish:
1,5,2,3,6,4
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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