TULSA — The Tennessee men’s tennis team won a NCAA Championship tournament rarity, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Baylor in the opening round of the men’s team bracket at the Case Tennis Center Friday.

The No. 8 Volunteers lost 4-1 to the No. 9 Bears. The unusual aspect was the two teams battled to 9-8 tiebreakers in each of the three doubles matches.

Baylor, which won the 2004 NCAA team title in Tulsa, dominated the singles and advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinals with a 25-8 record.

Tennessee ends its season at 23-4.

“We came out a little nervous in doubles,” said second-year coach Sam Winterbotham, who served as an assistant Baylor coach from 1999-2002 and again in 2006. “I think the event was a bit overwhelming for the guys. They showed heart to come back (and win the doubles point). We flat out got beat in the singles.”

Tennessee got one doubles wins from Kaden Hensel and J.P. Smith at No. 1. Boris Conkic and Matteo Fago got the other 9-8 win at No. 3.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Baylor coach Matt Knoll said of the tiebreaker outcomes.

The season ended on a down note, but the Winterbotham saw positives over the long fall and spring campaigns.

“The highlights were a top 10 ranking and establishing Tennessee tennis back to where it’s been,” Winterbotham said. “I am extremely proud of this team and the big step we had to make to get this far. I thought we would be doing this in a year or two. We were ahead of schedule with that.”

The NCAA regional championship and the trip to the round of 16 will pay dividends, Winterbotham said.

“I think this experience will help us down the road. It takes a good team to win,” Winterbotham added. “We’ll be back. Our talent is good.”

The Tennessee-Baylor battle was not only rare in doubles, but the longest so far in the men’s bracket. It took over 3 ½-hours to decide the winner.

The Vols were involved in a trio of three-set, singles matches with No. 93 Boris Conkic, Jeremy Tweedt and Fago. Tennessee needed to win each match to advance. Hensel, Smith and Davey Sandgren had already lost in straight sets to give the Bears a 3-1 lead.

Attila Bucko of Baylor finally broke through against Fago for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 verdict to end the marathon.

“We did come out nervous,” Hensel said. “You could see it in everyone’s demeanor.”

Did Winterbotham have mixed feelings about playing the team he knew so well as an assistant?

“Not really,” he said. “I will be forever grateful to Matt Knoll, who took a chance on an unknown, took me into his program and taught me everything he knew.”

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.