Men's Tennis Drops Season Opener at 13th-Ranked Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Opening its season with a trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the first time since its 2023 NCAA Championship First Round match, the Belmont University men's tennis team was unable to secure a point at 13th-ranked Tennessee Monday afternoon inside the Goodfriend Tennis Center. The Bruins (0-1) played a trio of competitive singles matches against the top-15 Volunteers (2-0), earning set wins on courts two and six in the 7-0 loss.
 
At the top singles spot, junior Esunge Ndumbe faced off against the 18th-ranked singles player in the nation and won six games in a 6-4, 6-2 match versus Tennessee's Shunsuke Mitsui. Meanwhile, fellow junior Sabi Roi took a 6-4 second set against the Vols' Alan Jesudason before being defeated 6-1 in the third.
 
At No. 6 singles, sophomore Utah State transfer Stefan Vedovelli made his Belmont debut and won the opening set, 6-4, against Tennessee's James Newton. Vedovelli also took Newton to the wire in the second set before ultimately falling 7-5, 6-1 in sets two and three.
 
In doubles, Vedovelli teamed up with the Bruins' other spring newcomer, freshman Esteban Ortiz, on court one and the pair won a pair of games versus the Vols' nationally-ranked duo of Mitsui and Jesudason. Ndumbe and freshman Charlie Robin also claimed two games against Tennessee's Newton and Jan Kobierski in an unfinished match at No. 2 doubles.
 
Former Belmont star Ian Cruz clinched the match for the Vols at No. 5 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win over graduate Niklas von Hellens.
 
Up Next
The Bruins return to action on Friday, Jan. 24 when they host NAIA Cumberland University (Tenn.) for their home opener at the Ensworth Tennis Center. First serve from the Music City is slated for 4 p.m.
 
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