UT overpowers Baylor to reach NCAA tennis semis

Matt Brewer and Rhyne Williams comment on Tennessee's 4-0 win over Baylor in NCAA tennis tournament quarterfinals.

ATHENS, Ga. - The Bulldog is definitely barking. Tennessee will find out today if he bites as well.

After beating Baylor 4-0 on Sunday, the Vols are two wins away from the program's first NCAA championship.

One of those wins will have to come at 5 p.m. today in the toughest setting in college tennis - playing Georgia before a rowdy home crowd in Henry Feild Stadium.

"I'm absolutely excited,'' UT senior Matt Brewer said Sunday after the No. 2 seed Vols (30-1) eliminated No. 7 Baylor (24-7).

"This is what college tennis is all about. There's nowhere else in the country where you can get this kind of crowd.''

Brewer is right. There's no place comparable to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex for college tennis.

According to the form chart, however, Georgia wasn't supposed to be here today. The Bulldogs were seeded only 11th.

But inspired by their crowd, they beat No. 6 Florida in the Round of 16. Sunday, they blitzed Oklahoma 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Oklahoma had upset No. 3 seed Texas.

Bottom line, the Vols will have to be both on their game and mentally tough when they face Georgia (20-7).

How on and how tough?

The Bulldogs have taken Tennessee down nine consecutive times in Henry Feild. Tennessee has beaten Georgia here only twice, in 1993 and 1967.

The most meaningful loss occurred in the 2001 national championship match.

But to hear the Vols - who beat Georgia 6-1 in Knoxville this year - tell it, they wouldn't have it any other way today.

"If you have the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd,'' said UT coach Sam Winterbotham, "you should take it every time.

"We don't want to be sitting on the back courts playing in front of 20 people, half of them parents, as has been the case a few times.

"I think you want to come to this stage and play on it.''

Top-seed Virginia plays defending-champion Southern California in the other semifinal today. The winners meet for the title on Tuesday.

Today will be UT's first appearance of this tournament in the main stadium.

The Vols were chased off the court Friday by rain and beat Louisville 4-0 indoors. Sunday, they were relegated to the McWhorter Courts behind the main stadium.

UT tennis coach comments on Tennessee's 4-0 win over Baylor in NCAA tennis tournament quarterfinals

Not that it was any great deterrent.

Although John-Patrick Smith and Davey Sandgren, the nation's No. 3-ranked doubles team, lost on Court One, the Vols toughed out wins at Two and Three to claim the point.

In a rare coincidence, UT has clinched the doubles point against both Louisville and Baylor thanks to a penalty point on a third overrule by the chair judge.

Matteo Fago's serve at 30-30 was called out by a Baylor player. The chair judge overruled for the third time in the match. UT got the serve point and the penalty point.

Matt Brewer got the second point with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles. It was his second victory in the tournament since returning from an ankle injury.

"Some people say getting into our lineup is like winning the NCAA singles tournament,'' Brewer said.

"I had to prove myself to get back into it. I'm thrilled Sam gave me a chance.''

Boris Conkic's 6-3, 6-2 win over Jordan Rux at No. 2 made it 3-0.

On his winning point, Conkic shouted, "Go Vols!''

Moments later, freshman Rhyne Williams clinched with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3. and the Vols were indeed going to the semifinals for the first time since 2002.

"I have to give Baylor a big credit,'' said Conkic. "The match was much closer than the score shows.''

Baylor coach Matt Knoll gave the Vols big credit back.

"The goal in dual-match tennis,'' Knoll said, "is getting four points. They've got four points out there that are pretty darn good.

"You're going to have to play exceptional tennis to beat them.''

Likewise, the Vols are going to have to play exceptional tennis to beat Georgia on college tennis' toughest court.