KNOXVILLE, TENN. — The Tennessee State men's tennis team put forth a valiant effort against the 16th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers but ultimately fell 7-0 in a pair of matches at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Match 1
Doubles Play
TSU opened the match with an intense doubles battle, looking to steal the early advantage. At the No. 1 spot, Jonasz Dziopak and James Adler Germinal fought hard but fell 6-4 to Tennessee's 18th-ranked duo of Alejandro Moreno and Alex Kotzen. The No. 3 pairing of Tatenda Mutetwa and Alexander Adamec also put up a fight but dropped a 6-3 decision. Meanwhile, Taj Hibbert and Rohan Loubser were locked in a tight contest at No. 2, trailing 6-5 before the match was left unfinished as Tennessee secured the doubles point.
Singles Play
Facing a lineup stacked with nationally ranked players, the Tigers continued to compete with intensity. At the top singles spot, Dziopak went head-to-head with the No. 29 player in the country, Alex Kotzen, but fell 6-2, 6-0. Hibbert put together a strong effort at No. 2, battling in both sets before dropping a 6-4, 6-3 decision.
TSU's closest contest came at No. 6, where Mutetwa pushed Lance Nisbet to the limit in the first set, forcing a tiebreak before eventually falling 7-6 (7), 6-1. Despite the setback, Mutetwa's fight showed the Tigers' never-give-up attitude.
Match 2
Doubles Play
TSU started the match looking for a spark in doubles, but the Volunteers' nationally ranked duo of Alex Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno proved too strong, defeating Taj Hibbert and Rohan Loubser 6-2 at the No. 1 position. The No. 2 pairing of Jonasz Dziopak and James Adler Germinal also fell 6-2 to Tennessee's Alan Jesudason and James Newton. The No. 3 match featuring Alexander Adamec and Tatenda Mutetwa was left unfinished with TSU trailing 4-3 when the Vols clinched the doubles point.
Singles Play
Facing another elite lineup, TSU battled hard in singles but was unable to turn the tide. Hibbert put together a competitive effort at the No. 1 spot against the 29th-ranked Kotzen but fell 6-3, 6-2. Dziopak had one of the closest matches of the day at No. 2, pushing Jesudason in both sets before dropping a narrow 6-4, 6-4 decision.
Loubser, Germinal, Adamec, and Christopher Bogelin all fought in their respective matches but faced tough opposition, with Tennessee securing straight-set wins across the board.
