The Tennessee men’s tennis team began its 2024 tournament run on Friday at Barksdale Stadium against the ETSU Buccaneers.
The Vols locked in rather quickly while they handled ETSU with little resistance, closing out a 4-0 sweep over ETSU (13-10) and advancing onward to the Round of 32.
The match kicked off the Vols’ postseason run, hosting the NCAA Knoxville Regional for the first and second rounds. After a tough loss to South Carolina in the SEC Tournament, the team needed to find its groove.
The Vols (23-6) started on the right foot, controlling the lead on all three courts during doubles. Courts 1 and 3 finished their matches with a score of 6-3, with Court 2 unfinished.
Filip Pieczonka had the team ahead in the match early, winning his first singles set, 6-0. Pieczonka followed the first set with another victory, scored 6-1, pushing the Vols out to a 2-0 lead over ETSU.
“I was very good on my set,” Pieczonka said. “I served pretty well, pretty good volleys from me, and I think the main thing for me is focus.”
Pieczonka, who ranked as high as No. 66 in singles play this season, entered the day with a singles record of 17-10 along with an impressive doubles record of 21-4. Pieczonka and his partner, Shunsuke Mitsui, earned the rank of No. 77 on ITA’s double pair rankings Thursday.
Mitsui continued his partner’s success as he claimed Court 2 in just two sets, scoring 6-2 and 6-3. Mitsui has shined all season for the Vols, sporting a singles record of 21-5 for the 2024 season, including a record of 7-2 on the season when facing a ranked opponent.
The Vols continued to apply pressure, and freshman Filip Apltauer took care of ETSU’s Francisco Lamas in just two sets, the scores showing 6-4 and 6-0.
The Vols’ freshmen seemed to be an outlying story throughout the day, with two out of the three singles matches being clinched by freshmen — particularly Pieczonka, who shined on Friday allowing just one point throughout his singles match while keeping his opponent at bay during doubles.
“That’s why I came here,” Pieczonka said. “I always expect the team will need something out of me. I’m really happy to enjoy those moments with my team.”
The home-court advantage, to no surprise, played a factor in the team’s victory. With the team finishing within the top 16, it earned itself an automatic bid to play in front of the home crowd.
“It was amazing,” Pieczonka said. “Obviously, it’s amazing, and to play that important of a match at home, it’s a big advantage for us. We’re just happy to have fun here.”
The team has a quick turnaround, with the Round of 32 taking place just over 24 hours from the start of Friday’s game. The Vols will once again match up against an in-state team with the Memphis Tigers.
“I don’t know too much about the team,” Pieczonka said. “But we’re going to come out firing. We’re going to be focused. We’re playing at home, so we’ll have the crowd as well. We just need to play like we played today, and it’ll be good.”
