March 6, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The No. 21 Auburn men's tennis team concluded the weekend at Tennessee, falling to the No. 2 Volunteers, 5-2, Sunday at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville.
The loss drops the Tigers to 7-5 overall and 0-2 in the SEC as Tennessee improves to 12-1 and 2-0 in the conference.
"We aren't looking for moral victories, we are looking for SEC victories," head coach Eric Shore said. "I thought we played a lot better today. We were in the match and if we keep playing like that and we will be fine. We have to carry that over to next weekend."
Auburn's Lucas Lopasso and Rafael Rondino upset No. 52 Matteo Fago and Edward Jones, 9-8 (1) in the No. 3 spot. On court two, Tennessee's No. 55 Tennys Sandgren and Rhyne Williams defeated No. 46 Alex Stamchev and Andreas Mies, 8-4. Tennessee clinched the doubles point as No. 1 Boris Conkic and John-Patrick Smith held off No. 43 Tim Puetz and Daniel Cochrane, 8-6.
In singles, No. 13 Smith cruised past No. 23 Puetz on court one, 6-3, 6-2. In the No. 6 spot, Jones took care of Lucas Lopasso, 6-2, 7-6.
Cochrane upset No. 41 Fago in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to give Auburn the first point of the match. Tennessee clinched the win as No. 35 Sandgren defeated No. 104 Stamchev, 6-3, 6-3.
On court two, No. 3 Williams fought off a strong attack from Tim Hewitt, winning the match 7-5, 7-6 (4). In the last match of the day, No. 117 Mies defeated No. 113 Conkic on court five, 7-6, 7-6.
Up next for Auburn is a pair of home matches. On Friday the Tigers host South Carolina and welcome Florida on Sunday. Both matches will be held in the Yarbrough Tennis Center and admission is free.
Singles
1. #13 John-Patrick Smith (UT) def. #23 Tim Puetz (AU) 6-3, 6-2
2. #3 Rhyne Williams (UT) def. Tim Hewitt (AU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
3. #35 Tennys Sandgren (UT) def. #104 Alex Stamchev (AU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Daniel Cochrane (AU) def. #41 Matteo Fago (UT) 6-3, 6-4
5. #117 Andreas Mies (AU) def. #113 Boris Conkic (UT) 7-6, 7-6
6. Edward Jones (UT) def. Lucas Lopasso (AU) 6-2, 7-6
Doubles
1. #1 Boris Conkic/John-Patrick Smith (UT) def. #43 Tim Puetz/Daniel Cochrane (AU) 8-6
2. #55 Tennys Sandgren/Rhyne Williams (UT) def. #46 Andreas Mies/Alex Stamchev (AU) 8-4
3. Rafael Rondino/Lucas Lopasso (AU) def. #52 Matteo Fago/Edward Jones (UT) 9-8 (7-1)
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,6,4,3,2,5)