The Tennessee men’s tennis team made a strong run in the 2000 NCAA

Tournament. However, pressure and fatigue took its toll in the

semifinals.

Virginia Commonwealth edged the Vols 4-3 in the semifinals to end

Tennessee’s tremendous season. Did the better team win?

The Vols were in control 3-2. However, within minutes, both Paul Podbury

and Peter Handoyo were both forced to retire from their respective matches

due to intense cramps. Both Podbury and Handoyo were leading before the

incidents.

“It was reported as dehydration but all of the guys were drinking fluids

constantly,” head coach Michael Fancutt said. “I think it was more tension,

pressure and nerves. That can build on guys when they play four or five

days in a row.”

Fancutt also seemed upset that his team was forced to play at noon each day

of the tournament while teams like Stanford played at 5 p.m.

The Vols held a 3-2 advantage and Podbury was winning his match while

Handoyo was tied with Jose Sanchez at 6-4, 1-6, 4-4. However, Handoyo held

a 30-0 advantage with hopes of winning the set.

“It’s disappointing but you can’t learn until you get to that stage,”

Fancutt said. “When we made the final four, we didn’t realize how close we

were to a national championship.”

Adam Carey shined for the Vols as he defeated 17th-ranked Frank Moser 6-3,

6-2 at the No. 2 position.

In the No. 6 position, Mark Fitzpatrick held his ground as usual with a

6-1, 6-4 win over Mattias Hoglund.

The No. 9 Vols faced No. 7 Texas A&M in the first round and pulled off the

upset, 4-3. The win came courtesy of the doubles point as Tennessee took

two of three matches. In singles, both schools earned three victories.

In the quarterfinals, the Vols surged past No. 2 UCLA 4-1 to earn its

second-ever trip to the NCAA semifinals. Once again, the Vols won the

doubles point and then beat the heavily favored Bruins at positions three,

four and six in singles action. Tennessee also led in positions one and two

but both matches were suspended.

Overall, the Vols had a great season and accomplished many goals. This

year’s tournament run is something that the Vols may get used to with such

a young team.

“We began the year by beating top-ranked UCLA and we also did well in the

indoor season,” Fancutt said. “We won the SEC and beat No. 2 Florida.”

Tennessee finished the 2000 season with a 23-6 overall record, posting 20

wins for the first time since 1993. It was the first time the Vols have

made the semifinals since the 1990 team advanced to the final game.

Fancutt is already planning next year’s attack and feels that the team will

be ready to make a late season run.

“Next year we want to focus on winning a national championship and being

successful in the tournament,” Fancutt said. “When you spend the season

worrying about the Alabama match next week, it doesn’t help your postseason

preparation.”