University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Tennessee Fall Invitational
Three Vols Reach Finals at Tennessee Invite
September 17, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Sept. 17, 2011
Tennessee Invitational Singles
Tennessee Invitational Doubles
BY AMANDA PRUITT
UTSPORTS.COM
After Saturday's competition at the Tennessee Fall Invitational, one thing is already certain: at least one Vol will walk away with his first tournament title.
Tennessee freshmen Brandon Fickey and Mikelis Libietis each won two matches at Barksdale Stadium to advance to the finals of the top singles draw. They play each other Sunday at 10 a.m. on their home courts.
The doubles finals, which Vols teams in two of the draws, starts at 9 a.m.
"No one likes playing their friends but it all counts toward your fall record," said Fickey, who defeated teammate Jarryd Chaplin 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. "You just go out there, have fun and try to make it a good match."
Fickey and Libietis aren't the only Vols playing for a trophy, however. Senior Bryan Swartz earned his way into his first career final with two wins, finishing the day with a three-hour 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over ETSU's Robin Akser in the semifinals.
Prior to this tournament, Swartz had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in a collegiate singles event. Counting two wins from last year, he is on a career-best six-match winning streak and faces ETSU's Rogerio Ribeiro for the title.
Three of the Vols' freshmen reached the quarterfinals of the top flight. Libietis rallied in the final sets to get past fellow newcomer Peter Nagovnak 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 and into the title match. Fickey defeated Winthrop's Dejon Bivens 6-3, 6-4 in his semifinal.
"We have a young team that needs to get a lot of experience and get a lot of matches, and this tournament has been great for that," Tennessee head coach Sam Winterbotham said. "The competition has been very good, and the performances have been very good as well. I thought Brandon Fickey played his most complete match I've seen him play, so that was excellent. Bryan was fighting and competing, and wins a three-hour marathon."
Tennessee will also compete for a pair of doubles titles Sunday.
Libietis and Chaplin picked up an 8-3 victory over Adam Lee and Daniel Kreyman of Wake Forest in the first flight, earning a title match against Xavier's Phil Diaz and Brandon MacDonald.
Fickey and Swartz teamed up to beat Michal Lyzwa and Evan Neuman 8-3 in the third flight. They play Hugo Klientorsky and Niklas Schroeder in the championship.
It's really fun to watch this team right now," Winterbotham said. "We're enjoying seeing how hard they're working and how close they are. We just have to continue to strive to compete at the level that Tennessee expects to compete at."
