Vols’ Rally Falls Short Against #18 Tigers, 4-3

Friday, February 27

Knoxville, TN

5:00 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

Auburn

February 27, 2026 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee men's tennis rallied against Auburn to force the final point, but the Tigers were ultimately able to come out on top, 4-3.

Doubles started out in Auburn's favor with courts two and three jumping out to 4-1 leads. The Vols (6-7, 0-3 SEC) fought back, however, taking the next three sets to even things at four. Court one was a close one the whole way, with the pairings of Dragos Cazacu and Boruch Skierkier (UT) and No. 20 Freddy Blaydes and Billy Blaydes (AU) trading sets. The Auburn pair was able to pull away to capture the first doubles win, 6-4. The Tigers' court three followed with Jake Kennedy and Hamza Nasridinov besting Tennessee's duo of Alejandro Moreno and Kobierski, 6-4. Court two went unfinished at five all after the doubles clinch.

Jan Kobierski started the rally by putting the first point on the board for the Vols, beating the Tigers' Freddy Blaydes on court four, 6-4, 6-2. Auburn (10-1, 2-0 SEC) matched with a triumph of its own, when Manel Lazaro took down Shion Itsusaki, 7-5, 6-2.

UT gained the lead after winning two in a row, with Jose Garcia capturing the second ranked singles victory of his career against No. 86 Billy Blaydes, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, and Dragos Cazacu notching his first collegiate triumph over Nicholas Herg, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Alan Bojarski evened the match up for the Tigers, forcing the decision to come down to Alejandro Moreno on court one. The competition was fierce, with a third set left to decide the win. Auburn's No. 58 Hamza Nasridinov seized the set to win the match.

CATCHING FIRE IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Jose Garcia continued his recent success with his second career ranked singles victory, pushing his longest ever win streak to seven matches. Garcia has been efficient over the stretch, only dropping two sets in the past seven contests.

CAREER FIRST
Graduate Dragos Cazacu notched his first collegiate singles win Friday night against the Tigers. The match was a marathon, reaching three sets and finishing 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

UP NEXT
The Big Orange will finish out its three-match homestand with a doubleheader against Oklahoma and Belmont on Sunday, competing against the Sooners at 11 a.m. and the Bruins at 5 p.m.

RESULTS
Singles
1. #56 Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) def. #58 Alejandro Moreno (TENN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
2. Jose Garcia (TENN) def. #86 Billy Blaydes (AUB) 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
3. Dragos Cazacu (TENN) def. Nicholas Heng (AUB) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Jan Kobierski (TENN) def. Freddy Blaydes (AUB) 6-4, 6-2
5. Alan Bojarski (AUB) def. Boruch Skierkier (TENN) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. Manel Lazaro (AUB) def. Shion Itsusaki (TENN) 7-5, 6-2

Order of Finish: (4,6,2,3,5,1)

Doubles
1. #20 Freddy Blaydes/Billy Blaydes (AUB) def. Dragos Cazacu/Boruch Skierkier (TENN) 6-4
2. Piotr Siekanowicz/Shion Itsusaki (TENN) vs. Nicholas Heng/Joey Phillips (AUB) 5-5, unf.
3. Jake Kennedy/Hamza Nasridinov (AUB) def. Alejandro Moreno/Jan Kobierski (TENN) 6-4

Order of Finish: (1,3)