#16 Vols Fall to #54 Georgia, 4-2

Monday, February 24

Athens, GA

1 PM

University of Tennessee

Georgia

February 24, 2025 | Men's Tennis

Box Score PDF Box

ATHENS, Ga. – The 16th-ranked Tennessee men's tennis team came up short against No. 54 Georgia, 4-2, on Monday afternoon at Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

The Big Orange (9-4, 0-2 SEC) started off scorching hot in doubles play, gaining quick leads on courts one and two, while Jan Kobierski and James Newton were in a competitive matchup on court three. No. 26 Alex Kotzen and Alejandro Moreno were the first to complete their match, earning an upset bid over 18th-ranked Thomas Paulsell and Ryan Colby, 6-1. Shunsuke Mitsui and Alan Jesudason followed suit with another ranked victory to swing the doubles point in favor of the Vols, defeating No. 81 Niels Ratiu and Miguel Perez Peña, 6-4.

Kobierski and Newton were knocking at the doorstep in their doubles match, 5-4, before play ended.

Singles play started as a back-and-forth dogfight between the two programs, with Georgia (6-4, 1-0 SEC) eventually creating separation and taking four of five first sets early. The Bulldogs took advantage of this momentum and grabbed a singles win on court five to put the match at a 1-1 standstill. No. 95 Moreno earned the lone singles victory on the day for Tennessee, taking down Ratiu, 6-3, 6-1.

After this point, Georgia fired off a trio of victories on the top three courts to clinch the match in favor of the Bulldogs. Georgia's Gabriele Vulpitta took a competitive first-set tiebreaker over Ian Cruz, 7-6(11), but the two were unable to start the second frame before the match went unfinished.

UP NEXT
Tennessee will continue its road swing with matchups against Oklahoma (Friday, Feb. 28) and Arkansas (Sunday, March 2)

RESULTS
Doubles
1. #26 Alex Kotzen/Alejandro Moreno (TENN) def. #18 Ryan Colby/Thomas Paulsell (UGA) 6-1
2. Shunsuke Mitsui/Alan Jesudason (TENN) def. #81 Niels Ratiu/Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) 6-4
3. Oscar Pinto Sansano/Gabriele Vulpitta (UGA) vs. James Newton/Jan Kobierski (TENN) 3-5, unfinished

Order of Finish: 1,2

Singles
1. #38 Miguel Perez Peña (UGA) def. #16 Shunsuke Mitsui (TENN) 6-1, 6-3
2. #46 Ryan Colby (UGA) def. #31 Alex Kotzen (TENN) 6-3, 6-3
3. #20 Thomas Paulsell (UGA) def. Jose Garcia (TENN) 6-4, 6-4
4. #95 Alejandro Moreno (TENN) def. Niels Ratiu (UGA) 6-3, 6-1
5. Oscar Pinto Sansano (UGA) def. Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-3, 6-0
6. Gabriele Vulpitta (UGA) vs. Ian Cruz (TENN) 7-6 (13-11), unfinished

Order of Finish: 5,4,1,2,3

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