No. 55 MTennis Suffers Rare Home Loss

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Entering the match with an impressive 10-2 home record, the No. 55 University of Miami men’s tennis team dropped a tough 7-0 decision to No. 52 Virginia Tech this afternoon at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.  The Hurricanes fall to 13-11 on the season and are 2-7 in ACC action.

“It is a difficult loss for us,” Head coach Mario Rincon said. “Virginia Tech was a really solid team throughout the lineup in every position.”

Doubles competition was tightly contested between the Hurricanes and Hokies, as the two teams split the top two courts.  The first doubles match went the way of the visitor, as Virginia Tech’s Andreas Bjerrehus and Hunter Koontz downed sophomore pair Wilfredo Gonzalez and Henrique Tsukamoto, 8-1.  At No. 2 doubles, Miami’s junior pair of Gabriel Flores and Diego Soto responded with a tough 8-5 victory over the Hokies’ Tripimir Kujundzic and Lucas Oliveira. Freshman pair William Albanese and Jack Murphy battled hard at third doubles, but dropped an 8-4 decision to Amerigo Contini and Joao Monteiro, giving the Hokies the doubles point.

“Today we used a different lineup in doubles,” Rincon explained.  “Our freshmen had an opportunity to play an ACC match at number three doubles.  They played well and were ahead for a while, but could not quite take advantage of the lead.  Nevertheless, they learned a lot and they improved.”

In singles, the Hurricanes could not get any momentum going. Virginia Tech grabbed a 2-0 advantage after Lucas Oliveira downed senior Victor Mauz, 6-2, 6-0 at fifth singles. Diego Soto dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to No. 98 Andreas Bjerrehus at No. 2 singles, giving Virginia Tech a 3-0 lead.

The Hokies clinched the victory behind No. 52 Amerigo Contini’s 6-4, 6-3 win over Gabriel Flores at No. 1 singles.

Henrique Tsukamoto made his way back into the singles lineup today at the sixth slot.  The 5-9 right-hander fought hard against Virginia Tech’s Aaron Gomez but dropped a close 7-6, 6-4 decision.

Despite Tsukamoto’s tough loss, coach Rincon was pleased to see him back in singles action.

“It was good to see Henrique Tsukamoto back in the lineup,” Rincon said.  “He played a tight match but unfortunately he could not close down a set point he had in the first set.”

William Albanese, playing his first match at No. 4 singles, posed a stiff challenge to Joao Monteiro but dropped the match in the second set, 6-4, 6-4.

Albanese has performed well for the Hurricanes all season and coach Rincon is excited to see him develop into an effective player.

“William Albanese has had a solid freshman season,” Rincon said. “He continues to improve and it is very exciting for us coaches to see the big steps he has taken.”

Miami’s lone senior player Victory Mauz will be honored at the Hurricanes’ season finale on Sunday, when they host top-ranked Virginia at 11 a.m. at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center.

“Our guys will be fired up for Sunday and hopefully we will have some opportunities and play a great match for senior day,” Rincon added.

For more information on the University of Miami men’s tennis team, log on to HurricaneSports.com. To follow the UM men’s tennis team socially, visit Twitter.com/CanesMensTennis and facebook.com/MiamiHurricanesMensennis

Singles Competition

1. #52 Amerigo Contini (VT) def. Gabriel Flores (MIA) 6-4, 6-3

2. #98 Andreas Bjerrehus (VT) def. Diego Soto(MIA) 6-2, 6-2

3. Hunter Koontz (VT) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez (MIA) 6-3, 6-4

4. Joao Monteiro (VT) def. William Albanese (MIA) 6-4, 6-4

5. Lucas Oliveira (VT) def. Victor Mauz (MIA) 6-2, 6-0

6. Aaron Gomez (VT) def. Henrique Tsukamoto (MIA) 7-6, 6-4

Doubles Competition

1. Andreas Bjerrehus/Hunter Koontz (VT) def. Wilfredo Gonzalez/Henrique Tsukamoto 8-1

2. Gabriel Flores/Diego Soto (MIA) def.  Trpimir Kujundzic/Lucas Oliveira (VT) 8-5

3. Amerigo Contini/Joao Monteiro (VT) def. William Albanese/Jack Murphy (MIA) 8-4