The UTC men’s tennis team continued action at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Freshman Chris Smith won the consolation bracket of the Stallings draw to lead the Mocs on Saturday.
Smith defeated Gardner-Webb’s Jeremy Tardiff (6-1, 7-6) in the semifinals in his only real test of the day. He advanced to the semis when Jacksonville State’s Eric Mattheison retired after one game and a bye in the quarters. He was not contested in the finals after Jacksonville State’s Felipe Wanatabe also retired.
Freshman Stephen Crofford dropped the only other singles match of the day, falling to Tennessee Tech’s Arturo Santo (6-1, 4-6, 6-1).
Freshmen Ryan Pool and Roberto Vieira dropped their doubles match in the Crimson Draw to Tennessee’s Ed Jones and Max Stevens (8-5).
In the white doubles bracket, Smith and junior Rick van de Bovenkamp advance to the quarterfinals after a default. They fell to Josh Girling and Mario Gutierrez of Tennessee (8-2). Crofford and sophomore Sam Parfitt also dropped their only doubles match, losing to Alabama’s Creighton Blanchard and Michael Davis (8-6).
Stallings Draw
Consolation First Round
Chris Smith (UTC) def. Eric Mattheison (JSU)– 1-0, ret.
Consolation Quarter Finals
Arturo Santo (TTU) def. Stephen Crofford (UTC) – 6-1, 4-6, 6-1
Consolation Semifinals
Chris Smith (UTC) def. Jeremy Tardiff (GWU) – 6-1, 7-6
Consolation Finals
Chris Smith (UTC) def. Felipe Wanatabe (JSU) – Def.
Crimson Doubles
Round of 32
Ed Jones-Max Stevens (Tennessee) - Ryan Pool-Roberto Vieira (UTC) – 8-5
White Doubles
Round of 16
Rick van de Bovenkamp-Chris Smith (UTC) def. James Moye-Sam Wells (Vanderbilt) – Def.
Creighton Blanchard-Michael Davis (Alabama) def. Stephen Crofford-Sam Parfitt (UTC) – 8-6
Quarterfinals
Josh Girling-Mario Gutierrez (TTU) def. Rick van de Bovenkamp-Chris Smith (UTC) – 8-2