Despite outstanding play from freshmen Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese, the Tennessee men’s tennis team was unable to defeat No. 9 Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
“We have improved so much as a team,” said UT coach Sam Winterbotham said. “It’s clear for anybody to see.”
Some of that improvement came at the hands of Libietis and Reese, who both beat ranked opponents — Libietis over No. 10 Artem Illyushin 7-6, 6-2, making it his first career victory against a top 10 player, and Reese over No. 77 Malte Stropp 0-6, 7-5, 6-2.
They were the only UT players who proved victorious against tournament host MSU.
“I think everybody did a very good job at not getting caught up in the moment,” Reese said. “I think we all did a good job at buckling down and playing our matches.”
Reese once again battled back from being down one set, having lost 0-6 in the first against Stropp.
“I’ve been in college tennis for a year and a half now,” Reese said. “You just never know what can happen. I never try to not give myself a chance to win. I always try to keep fighting.”
Much of Reese’s will to play under pressure comes from his coach, who was seen instilling a much needed spark into his freshman standout that got him back on the winning track.
“Sam always has a way of making me mad and getting me fired up,” said Reese, who is looking at this loss to MSU as a learning experience. “We’re just focusing on giving the same effort we’ve been giving in practice.”
Following the early departure in the quarterfinals, Reese and his fellow teammates were given a sign of encouragement from their leader.
“In everybody’s minds, apart from the coaching staff, this team is overachieving,” Winterbotham said. “I believe this team is capable of winning this tournament. I’m proud of what we’re doing but we’ve got to get better.”
The next opportunity for the Vols will come next month in the NCAA Championship, possibly encountering MSU again somewhere down the road.
“Every guy was committed and came out firing,” Reese said. “When it gets to the tournament, hopefully we’ll host, and win.”
