Jose Garcia extended his singles winning streak to six matches, but the Tennessee Volunteers men’s tennis team fell to Vanderbilt 4-2 in an SEC matchup on Monday in Nashville. The loss brings Tennessee’s season record to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while Vanderbilt moves to 9-3 overall and 1-1 in the SEC.
The Volunteers started strong in doubles, with Jan Kobierski and Alejandro Moreno securing a quick victory over Hugo Coquelin and Jack Satterfield of Vanderbilt, 6-2. However, Tennessee dropped the next two doubles matches, giving Vanderbilt the doubles point.
In singles play, Nathan Cox of Vanderbilt defeated Jan Kobierski 6-2, 6-1 on court four. Jose Garcia responded for Tennessee by beating Danil Panarin 6-1, 6-2. Pablo Martinez Gomez gave Vanderbilt another point with a win over Dragos Cazacu, 6-2, 6-2. Boruch Skierkier kept Tennessee close by defeating Jack Satterfield 6-3, 6-4. The match was ultimately decided when Hoyoung Roh won a three-set match against Alejandro Moreno on court one. Shion Itsusaki’s match against Hugo Coquelin was abandoned at 4-5 after Vanderbilt clinched the team victory.
“Jose Garcia’s career-best six match win streak has propelled him to be the winningest Vol this season with 13 victories,” according to the team. “Garcia has been on a tear in singles recently, dropping only two sets in the past six matches.”
Boruch Skierkier has also made an impact after moving up from NCAA Division II competition. He has won twelve singles matches this season with an eighty percent winning percentage and has collected wins across courts four, five and six.
The Volunteers will return home for a three-match homestand starting February 27 against Auburn at 5 p.m. ET. They will then face Oklahoma and Belmont in a doubleheader on March 1.
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