Tennis Vols win Blue Gray Classic

Tennessee counted on its big guns to turn the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday and came away with the Blue Gray tennis classic championship at Montgomery, Ala.

Tennessee was losing 2-1 to Alabama in the finals, but two-seed Boris Conkic defeated Matheiu Thibaudeau 6-3, 6-4 to tie the match. Then at No. 1, John-Patrick Smith, rated No. 7 nationally, put away Saketh Myneni (32nd), 6-3, 7-5 and sent UT on its way to a 4-2 victory.

“We were the one seed, had the target on our chest, and we handled it extremely well,” head coach Sam Winterbotham said. “This is a great day for our program.”

Freshman Christian Hansen clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Billy Mertz at No. 5.

Tennessee gave the SEC its first victory in the Blue Gray since Ole Miss won in 1997.

Smith was named tournament MVP after winning all four of his matches in the tournament, three over ranked players.

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Comments » 4

budd#207344 writes:

Great win nice job

vol4gzus writes:

Weekend wasn't a complete washout in all Vol sports. Golfers in second at Schenkel(?) as of Sunday. Major sports have to regroup for 2010.

TotalPackage1 writes:

I was there...small contingent of vol fans...big bama turnout...tennis team can play and worth watching...good chance of bringing home the National Championship.

TrouserCough writes:

Great coach and a great team. Awesome guys.

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