Sept. 22, 2008
ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Kentucky men’s tennis doubles team of senior Bruno Agostinelli and sophomore Brad Cox clinched the doubles championship with an 8-5 decision over East Tennessee State Monday afternoon at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships hosted by the University of Georgia, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
The Wildcats defeated Buccaneers Enrique Olivares and Alex Ahlgren in the final. Earlier in the day, the ETSU duo edged Duke in a semifinal that came down to a tiebreak, 9-8(3). The UK pair did not take the court until the final, registering a walk-over win against Lucas Jovita and Thomas Estrada of South Florida in the other semifinal.
The UK tandem was the top seed overall in the division I doubles bracket and rank 15th nationally in the ITA pre-season top 50 doubles rankings. In the final, the Wildcats surrendered as many games as their three previous matches combined. The Blue and White team only dropped ten total games during its four tournament victories, outscoring opponents by a margin of 22 (32-10).
The doubles final was the second time that Agostinelli was across the net from Olivares on the day. Agostinelli, the No. 2 singles seed and ranked 19th in the country, faced No. 4 seed Olivares of ETSU ranked 31st nationally, in the morning singles final. The UK senior captain coasted in the first set to a 6-3 win. But Olivares put up a fight in the second set resulting in a tiebreak. The Buccaneer edged Agostinelli in the late stages of the breaker 7-6(5) to force a deciding set. Olivares used his momentum from the close decision in the third set, winning the final 6-1.
Agostinelli had a fantastic run through the tournament breezing past three ranked opponents while only dropping one set on his way to the singles final match.
Georgia’s Southern Intercollegiate Championships completed its 41st year as the South’s oldest recurring tournament. This year the tourney featured 179 players from 32 schools.
UK tennis players don’t take the court again until the ITA All-American Championships beginning Oct. 3.
Keep up with all of the Wildcat men’s tennis action on UKathletics.com.
