COLLEGE STATION – The No. 9 Texas A&M men’s tennis team withstood frigid temperatures and a 14-hour weather delay to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers 4-1 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center Monday morning. The Aggies improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in SEC play while the Vols fell to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.
“This was another important win for us at home,” Texas A&M head coach Steve Denton said. “In this league you have to hold serve at home and try to steal a couple matches on the road. This seemed like an eternity to play this match with a rain delay and I know that these kinds of conditions are a drain on the team, but they faced the adversity and came out with a win.”
As play resumed Monday morning the Aggies were staked to a 1-0 lead after yesterday’s doubles results. The home team took the lead through wins from freshmen duo AJ Catanzariti and Arthur Rinderknech and juniors Harrison Adamsand Shane Vinsant. The junior duo tallied their third win over a top-5 opponent this spring defeating No. 3 and NCAA Doubles Champions Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese.
“Harry and Shane played really well yesterday and I knew they were excited to play the NCAA Champs from a season ago,” Denton added. “They have been playing very well this spring and they came out and played with a lot of intensity and confidence yesterday against a very talented doubles team from Tennessee.”
No. 65 Vinsant translated the doubles momentum onto the singles court claiming a win over Reese 6-3, 6-1 on court two. The A&M junior claimed his first win on court two and improved to 2-1 in dual matches this season.
Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Rinderknech continued his torrid play with his fifth straight win this spring, defeating Luis Valero 6-1, 6-3 on court four. The Frenchman is now 8-1 in the maroon and white and 1-0 in SEC play.
The Aggies clinched the win with No. 88 Catanzariti’s straight-set win on court five over Jess Jones. The A&M freshman paces the Aggies with 21 wins this year against just seven losses. The Pennsylvania native is now 2-0 SEC matches and 4-1 on court five.
“These two freshmen are growing up on the court for us,” Denton said. “They have been getting more comfortable in college tennis and it shows on the court. Both Arthur and AJ have been more aggressive and confident on the court and that is exactly what we need from both of them moving forward.”
The Aggies will hit the road for the first time this season on a SEC road trip at No. 7 Georgia on Friday followed by a Sunday match up with No. 34 South Carolina.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M men’s tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men’s tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
#9 Texas A&M 4, #56 Tennessee 1
Singles competition
1. #66 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) vs. #15 Mikelis Libietis (UT) 4-6, 5-3 unfinished
2. #65 Shane Vinsant (TAMU) def. Hunter Reese (UT) 6-3, 6-1
3. Jack Schipanski (UT) def. #39 Harrison Adams (TAMU) 6-1, 6-3
4. Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. Luis Valero (UT) 6-1, 6-3
*5. #88 AJ Catanzariti (TAMU) def. Jess Jones (UT) 6-2, 6-4
6. Max Lunkin (TAMU) vs. Brandon Fickey (UT) 5-7, 3-0 unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #8 Shane Vinsant/Harrison Adams (TAMU) def. #3 Hunter Reese/Mikelis Libietis (UT) 6-2
2. #22 Jeremy Efferding/Jordan Szabo (TAMU) vs. Luis Valero/Bartosz Sawicki (UT) 4-4, unfinished
3. AJ Catanzariti/Arthur Rinderknech (TAMU) def. Jack Schipanski/Andrew Dromsky (UT) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (3,2,4,5)
* Clinched the Match