Men's Tennis History
2025Â Season
Record:Â 22-9
SEC Finish:Â 9-5Â (5th)
SEC Tournament:Â Semifinals
Postseason:Â NCAA Round of 16
Coach:Â Chris Woodruff (8th Season)
With only two returning players on the roster from the previous season, the Tennessee men's tennis team had numerous accomplishments during the 2025 dual season in year eight of the Chris Woodruff era. After failing to reach the ITA Indoor National Championships and starting SEC play 0-3, the Vols were able to make a quick turnaround and create another successful campaign on Rocky Top. Alex Kotzen and Shunsuke Mitsui held down the top two spots in singles for the entirety of the season, as both earned First Team All-SEC honors, while Kotzen also earned SEC Newcomer of the Year honors. For Mitsui, he put a bow on one of the most impressive careers in program history, putting his name in the record book for numerous achievements. His 104 career singles wins currently ranks fifth in school history, and he is also the seventh Vol to record 100 singles victories and 100 doubles triumphs while at UT. The Shizuoka, Japan, native earned ITA All-American status for the second straight season after reaching the Round of 16 at the NCAA Individual Championships in November. Tennessee was able to reach the SEC Tournament Semifinals for the sixth straight season, and the Vols extended their streak of hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and making an NCAA Super Regional to six years as well. Numerous individuals were ranked throughout the course of the season for Tennessee, as Alex Kotzen, Shunsuke Mitsui and Alejandro Moreno were tabbed in singles and pairings of Alejandro Moreno/Alex Kotzen and Shunsuke Mitsui/Alan Jesudason were ranked for the Big Orange in doubles.
2024Â Season
Record:Â 25-7
SEC Finish:Â 10-2Â (2nd)
SEC Tournament:Â Semifinals
Postseason:Â NCAA Quarterfinals
Coach:Â Chris Woodruff (7th Season)
Tennessee advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in the 2024 dual season in the seventh year of the Chris Woodruff era. The Vols were one of four programs to be ranked in the top 10 nationally for the entirety of the season. Johannus Monday was tabbed the SEC Player of the Year for the second straight year and earned first-team All-SEC honors alongside Shunsuke Mitsui. Monday earned ITA Singles All-America honors for the fourth consecutive season after a 25-3 dual singles record. He posted a 24-3 (10-0 SEC) mark at the No. 1 singles spot, including going 19-2 against ranked opponents. His 28-3 overall singles record on the season (.903) is tied for the second-best winning percentage in a season in program history. Mitsui captured an ITA Singles All-America accolade after advancing to the NCAA Singles Round of 16. The rising senior went 23-6 in dual singles on the year primarily playing on the No. 2 singles court, including nine ranked victories and a 10-2 record in SEC play. Angel Diaz and Monday gained All-America doubles status as a doubles pair. The duo was never ranked outside of the top 10 nationally for the entire season, and they finished the year at eighth overall. They earned a 17-7 dual doubles mark together, including 11 victories against ranked foes. In SEC play, they tallied a 9-3 record and were placed as high as fourth in the national ITA doubles rankings.
2023Â Season
Record:Â 23-8
SEC Finish:Â 10-2Â (2nd)
SEC Tournament:Â Semifinals
Postseason:Â NCAA Super Regional
Coach:Â Chris Woodruff (6th Season)
The 2023 dual season saw continued excellence on Rocky Top for Tennessee. Tennessee has now posted 20-win seasons in each of the past five full campaigns (excluding 2020 due to COVID-19 abbreviating the season). The Vols logged a 23-8 overall mark and finished second in the SEC standings for the second time in three years, with a 10-2 conference record. Tennessee advanced to the program's fourth consecutive NCAA Super Regional, its longest streak of Round of 16 appearances since 2008-11. UT junior Johannus Monday earned SEC Player of the Year accolades, making him the fourth Vol to garner the recognition. Emile Hudd secured first-team All-SEC honors, while Shunsuke Mitsui was named an All-SEC second-teamer for a second consecutive year. Monday captured ITA Singles All-America status for a third consecutive season, recording a dual singles record of 19-3 incluidng a 16-3 (9-1 SEC) mark at the No. 1 singles lineup position. Pat Harper and Monday achieved ITA Doubles All-America recognition, capping their campaign with a No. 8 national doubles ranking at season's end. For Harper, his illustrious career ended with a 96-38 overall doubles record, the 10th-most career doubles wins in program history.
2022Â Season
Record:Â 26-8
SEC Finish:Â 8-4Â (5th)
SEC Tournament:Â Semifinals
Postseason:Â NCAA Semifinals
Coach:Â Chris Woodruff (5th Season)
The 2022 edition of Tennessee men’s tennis saw a perseverant group of Vols log a 26-8 record (8-4 SEC) while reaching the national semifinals for a second consecutive season after earning a 4-3 victory over third-ranked Baylor in the quarterfinals. The Vols went 2-0 at the ITA Kickoff Weekend to advance to the ITA Indoor National Championships in Seattle for a second consecutive year and the second time since 2014. While in Seattle, Tennessee earned three top-13 wins to advance to the championship match. After a three-match losing skid in March, Tennessee went on to reach the SEC Tournament semifinals and won 12 of its ensuing 15 matches to close the season. In all, 11 of Tennessee's 26 wins came over top-25 opponents, with four of those coming against top-10 competition. Graduate student Adam Walton and sophomore Johannus Monday were named first team All-SEC members for a second year in a row, while senior Emile Hudd and freshman Shunsuke Mitsui garnered second team All-SEC recognition in their debut seasons on Rocky Top. Additionally, Walton and Monday each achieved ITA Singles All-America status for a second consecutive year. After winning the NCAA Doubles National Championship in 2021, Walton and fellow Aussie Pat Harper earned All-America status following their final ITA ranking of No. 10.
2021Â Season
Record:Â 28-4
SEC Finish:Â 10-2Â (2nd)
SEC Tournament:Â Champions
Postseason:Â NCAA Semifinals
Coach:Â Chris Woodruff (4th Season)
The 2021 dual season was Tennessee’s most successful season in over a decade. The Vols went an impressive 28-4 and 10-2 in the SEC while claiming the program’s first SEC Title of any kind since 2010, earning its fourth tournament title with a 4-3 victory over top-ranked and top-seeded Florida. The Vols also advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament since that fabled 2010 season and moved on to the ITA National Indoors for the first time since 2014. UT also placed senior Adam Walton and freshman Johannus Monday on the All-SEC First team, while Monday earned himself SEC, Regional and National Freshman of the Year accolades. UT also featured a trio of All-Americans, with Walton earning the honor in both singles and doubles, Monday in singles and Pat Harper pairing with Walton to earn doubles All-America status. Harper and Walton concluded Tennessee’s historic season, by becoming the first Tennessee doubles pair since 2014 to win the NCAA Doubles National Championship. The title was the fourth individual title in program history.
2020Â Season
Record:Â 14-2*
SEC Finish:Â 2-1 (N/A)*
SEC Tournament: N/A*
Postseason:Â N/A*
Coach: Chris Woodruff (3rd season)
*NOTE: The 2020 season was canceled after the first 16 matches due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis.
Coming off a 2019 season that saw them win 22 matches, reach the SEC Tournament final and the NCAA Round of 16, the Vols were 14-2 and off to their best start since 2011 before the 2020 season was cut short due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global health crisis. The Vols started the year by sweeping five of their first six opponents, which became a trend as the Big Orange went on to add four more, running their total to nine in just 16 matches and logging the most sweeps in a season since 2013 when Tennessee recorded 13. The Vols faced seven ranked opponents in the first 16 matches, finishing with a 5-2 record. Tennessee had just begun SEC play when the season ended and stood at 2-1 after the first three league matches.Â
2019Â Season
Record:Â 22-8
SEC Finish:Â 8-4Â (4th)
SEC Tournament:Â SEC Championship Final
Postseason: NCAA Super Regional
Coach: Chris Woodruff (2nd season)
Tennessee saw even more improvement in Chris Woodruff's second year as head coach, compiling a 22-8 overall record and an 8-4 record during conference play, registering the program's first back-to-back 20 win seasons since 2010 and 2011. After reaching the semifinal of the SEC Tournament a year ago, the Vols advanced to the championship final in 2019 after defeating the top-seeded Gators in the semifinal on their home court. UT hosted the opening two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, defeating Radford and NC State before advancing to the round of 16 for the first time since 2014. The Vols had three players earn bids to the NCAA Championship as individuals: Timo Stodder in singles and doubles, Adam Walton in singles and Preston Touliatos, playing with Stodder in doubles. Stodder put together an impressive run to the round of 16 and finished his season with All-America honors. Walton was eliminated in the first round but the sophomore closed out the year with 25 wins in consecutive seasons and took home the ITA Ohio Valley Player to Watch award. Stodder and Touliatos made a deep run in the doubles bracket as they became the first UT doubles team since 2014 to reach the semifinal round, the senior duo earned All-America honors and finished the season as the 5th-ranked team in the nation.
2018 Season
Record:Â 21-9
SEC Finish:Â 8-4Â (4th)
SEC Tournament: Semifinal
Postseason: NCAA Round of 32
Coach: Chris Woodruff (1st season)
Tennessee returned to the top half of the SEC standings in Chris Woodruff's first year as head coach, compiling a 8-4 record during conference play. After reaching the semifinal of the SEC Tournament, UT advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2014. The Vols had three players earn bids to the NCAA Championship as individuals: Timo Stodder in singles, and Preston Touliatos and Luis Valero in doubles. Stodder put together an impressive run to the quarterfinals and finished his season with a 32-14 singles record. He and teammate Scott Jones picked up All-SEC honors. Tennessee had a crop of young talent as well, led by freshman Adam Walton's 25 singles wins that included a team-high eight victories in SEC matches.Â
2017 Season
Record: 13-14
SEC Finish: 3-9 (8th)
SEC Tournament: Quarterfinal
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (11th season)
Timo Stodder earned All-SEC honors as a sophomore while playing at the top of the singles and doubles lineup, going a team-leading 25-15 in singles. He earned a spot in the NCAA singles championships for the first time and ended the year ranked No. 32. Tennessee went 13-14 overall and reached the quarterfinals of the SEC Championships, which were held in Knoxville. At the conclusion of the year, Chris Woodruff was named the new head coach of the men's tennis program.
2016 Season
Record: 12-17
SEC Finish: 0-12 (13th)
SEC Tournament: 2nd Round
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (10th season)
The Vols went 12-17 during the 2016 season, starting underclassmen in five of six spots in the lineup. After an injury kept sophomore Igor Smelyanski off the court for most of the spring season, sophomore Luis Valero climbed to the top of the lineup and earned second-team All-SEC Honors for the first time in his career and was ranked as high as No. 76 nationally in singles. He and junior Jack Schipanski played No. 1 doubles and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. Freshmen Timo Stodder and Srdjan Jakovljevic, who started their UT careers in January, provided the strength in the middle of the Vols' lineup.
2015 Season
Record: 14-13
SEC Finish: 5-7 (8th)
SEC Tournament: 2nd Round
Postseason: NCAA Round of 64
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (9th season)
Seniors Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese concluded their historic careers at Tennessee, winning their third national title at the 2014 ITA All-American Championships and the 2014 Knoxville Challenger. Libietis became the fifth Vol in history to record at least 100 wins in singles (106) and doubles (118). The team was deeply affected by a loss off the court as sophomore Sean Karl passed away in November 2014 following a two-year battle with cancer. Court No. 1 inside Goodfriend Tennis Center was named Sean Karl Court in his memory.
2014 Season
Record: 19-11
SEC Finish: 6-6 (6th)
SEC Tournament: 2nd Round
Postseason: NCAA Round of 16
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (8th season)
The Vols came on strong late in the 2014 season, winning six of their final eight matches to reach the NCAA round of 16 for the sixth time in Sam Winterbotham's eight years at UT. Tennessee advanced to the final site by winning a road NCAA regional for the first time, beating No. 11 Duke 4-2 in the second round. The year was ultimately marked by the doubles success of Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese. The No. 1-ranked duo captured Tennessee's first NCAA doubles title in 34 years, beating Ohio State's Peter Kobelt and Kevin Metka 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in the final.
2013 Season
Record: 26-9
SEC Finish: 8-4 (2nd East)
SEC Tournament: Finals
Postseason: NCAA Quarterfinals
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (7th season)
With all six starters coming back from the 2012 squad, the Vols returned to the top 10 in the national rankings and reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the third time in four years. Coaches around the country took notice as Sam Winterbotham was voted the ITA National Head Coach of the Year and Chris Woodruff was the ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Sophomore Mikelis Libietis became the first Vol in program history to simultaneously hold the No. 1 ranking in singles and doubles. He was voted the ITA National Player to Watch as well as the SEC Player of the Year. He and Hunter Reese earned All-America status.
2012 Season
Record: 15-14
SEC Finish: 5-6 (4th East)
SEC Tournament: Quarterfinals
Postseason: NCAA Regionals
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (6th season)
With five starters to replace from the 2011 SEC Championship team, freshmen led the way for the Vols in 2012. Freshmen Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese were named All-SEC and played No. 1 and 2 singles respectively. Edward Jones, the team's only returning starter, provided stability in the lower half of the lineup with Jarryd Chaplin as the Vols stayed in the top 25 the entire year, finishing at No. 20 in the final ITA standings.
2011 Season
Record: 24-5
SEC Finish: 10-1 (T-1st)
SEC Tournament: Semifinals
Postseason: NCAA Quarterfinals
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (5th season)
The 2011 season was a year of firsts for Tennessee. The Vols won back-to-back regular season SEC titles for the first time in program history. The team attained the No. 1 national ranking for the first time since 1990, and two Vols - John-Patrick Smith and Rhyne Williams - held the No. 1 singles ranking during the year.
Smith and Boris Conkic formed the end-year No. 1 doubles team. Williams was the NCAA singles finalist, while Smith became the first Vol to be voted SEC Athlete of the Year since Peyton Manning.
2010 Season
Record: 31-2
SEC Finish: 11-0 (1st)
SEC Tournament: Champions
Postseason: NCAA Runner-Up
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (4th season)
As evidenced by a program-record 16 shutouts, the Tennessee coaching staff assembled one of its deepest lineups ever in 2010. The Vols made their third appearance in the NCAA championship match, losing to defending champion Southern California 4-2 in Athens, Ga.
The Vols swept the SEC regular-season and tournament titles for the second time, led by SEC Player of the Year and tournament MVP John-Patrick Smith. He and Sandgren also reached the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championships. Rhyne Williams was voted SEC Freshman of the Year.
2009 Season
Record: 23-7
SEC Finish: 8-3 (2nd East)
SEC Tournament: Finals
Postseason: NCAA Round of 16
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (3rd season)
The Vols picked up where they left off in 2008 with Tennessee's starring sophomore trio of John-Patrick Smith, Boris Conkic and Matteo Fago not missing a beat in their second year. Tennessee upset the top-ranked Ohio State 4-3 at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships and later won the National Blue Gray Tennis Classic.
The team finished the year ranked eighth nationally. Smith made a return trip to an NCAA individual final, reaching the doubles title match with Davey Sandgren. They ended the year ranked No. 1.
2008 Season
Record: 23-4
SEC Finish: 9-2 (T-2nd East)
SEC Tournament: Semifinals
Postseason: NCAA Round of 16
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (2nd season)
Sam Winterbotham's first signing class shined from the very start. John-Patrick Smith was the SEC Freshman of the Year and was joined on the Freshman All-SEC Team by Boris Conkic and Matteo Fago as the Vols finished ninth in the final ITA national rankings.
In a surprise run as an unseeded player, Smith became the first Vol since Chris Woodruff to reach the title match of the NCAA Singles Championships.
2007 Season
Record: 17-8
SEC Finish: 7-4 (T-2nd East)
SEC Tournament: Quarterfinals
Postseason: NCAA Round of 32
Coach: Sam Winterbotham (1st season)
The Vols were ranked 50th nationally when Sam Winterbotham took over as head coach in the fall of 2006. By the end of his first season, the Vols climbed all the way to 25th and finished second in the SEC Eastern Division.
Kaden Hensel and Davey Sandgren were named All-SEC, while Hensel also picked up All-America honors in singles.
2006 Season
Record: 9-11
SEC Finish: 3-8 (5th East)
SEC Tournament: First Round
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Chris Mahony (2nd season)
After a strong start to the season, the Vols struggled down the stretch in 2006, losing seven of their final eight matches. Tennessee missed a team invitation to the NCAA field of 64 for the first time since 2003.
Ben Rogers made a return trip to the NCAA Doubles Championships, this time with Australian Adam Hubble. Rogers went to the NCAA doubles tournament three times (2005-07).
2005 Season
Record: 16-9
SEC Finish: 6-5 (T-3rd East)
SEC Tournament: Runner-up
Postseason: NCAA Round of 16
Coach: Chris Mahony (1st season)
After finishing 6-5 during the SEC regular season, Tennessee made a surprise run to the title match of the conference tournament, losing to Florida 4-2 in the final.
The Vols reached the final site of the NCAA Championships, punching their ticket to the round of 16. Ockie Oosthuizen and Ben Rogers earned All-American honors in doubles.
2004 Season
Record: 14-9
SEC Finish: 6-5 (4th East)
SEC Tournament: First Round
Postseason: NCAA Round of 32
Coach: Michael Fancutt (6th season)
The Vols rebounded from a sub-.500 season in Michael Fancutt's final season as head coach. Tennessee finished 21st in the final ITA rankings. Simon Rea and Damien Spizzo earned All-America and All-SEC honors to lead the Vols.
The Vols traveled for the NCAA regional losing to host Arkansas in the second round.
2003 Season
Record: 9-12
SEC Finish:2-9 (6th East)
SEC Tournament: First Round
Postseason: N/A
Coach: Michael Fancutt (5th season)
The Vols won five matches to start the 2003 season, but Tennessee managed just four wins in the following 16 in what was a down year after reaching the NCAA finals or semifinals the previous three years. Mark Dietrich and Simon Rea both earned second-team All-SEC honors.
2002 Season
Record: 22-7
SEC Finish:7-4 (T-2nd East)
SEC Tournament: Champions
Postseason: Semifinals
Coach: Michael Fancutt (4th season)
The Vols hosted the SEC Tournament for a second time in Knoxville and once again reigned as tournament champions with a 4-1 win against Auburn. The team later advanced to the semifinals for the third consecutive year and lost to Southern California 4-3.
Peter Handoyo wrapped up a stellar career with the Vols, becoming Tennessee's fifth three-time All-American. Mario Toledo was also an All-American in singles.
n the following 16 in what was a down year after reaching the NCAA finals or semifinals the previous three years. Mark Dietrich and Simon Rea both earned second-team All-SEC honors.
