Univ. of Texas at Austin Team Page
URBANA, Ill. - Chris Camillone and David Holiner defeated their third consecutive top-5 opponent to advance to the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championship on Sunday evening at the Atkins Tennis Center.
The unseeded team of Camillone and Holiner toppled No. 3 seed Nik Scholtz and Jonas Lutjen of Mississippi in three sets (6-2, 5-7, 6-3) to become the first NCAA doubles finalists from Texas since 1995. The duo defeated the draw’s No. 1 seed on Friday and the No. 5 seed on Saturday to reach the semifinals.
Head coach Michael Center explained, “They served great. They returned great. They put balls away. They just played unbelievable tennis in the last four games to win the match. I’m so proud of them. We are really excited about tomorrow for a chance to play for a national title.”
Texas is seeking its first NCAA Doubles title in the modern era and sixth in the program’s history (1923, 1924, 1931, 1943, 1944).
Camillone and Holiner played to a 2-2 tie in the first set and went on a seven-game run, including three service breaks, to win the first set, 6-2, and take a 3-0 lead in the second set.
Scholtz and Lutjen shifted momentum in the second set with three service breaks to take a 6-5 lead. After an hour-and-a-half rain delay, the No. 3 seed team from Mississippi won the second set, 7-5. Their momentum continued into the third set, jetting to a 3-1 lead over the Longhorns.
Camillone and Holiner clawed back in the third set by holding serve in the ensuing game and tying the set, 3-3, with a service break. The two Texas natives would not lose another game, going on win the third and deciding set, 6-3.
“After we held serve when we were down 3-1, you could feel the momentum shifting in our favor,” Center said. “They made a couple spectacular plays to hold serve and from that point on our guys were amazing. I don’t know what else to say. When moments got away from them, they weren’t down mentally for one second.”
Camillone and Holiner will face No. 4 seed Jarmere Jenkins and Mac Styslinger of Virginia to decide a doubles national champion. The two duos met on March 15 in Austin, but the match did not finish as Virginia clinched the doubles team point with Jenkins/Styslinger leading 5-3.
Monday’s doubles national title match will begin no later than 2 p.m. CT at the University of Illinois’ Atkins Tennis Center – after the singles national title match is complete. Video coverage of the match will be on NCAA.com.
NOTES
• Chris Camillone and David Holiner are the first Texas doubles team to reach the finals of the NCAA Doubles Championship since 1995, when Chad Clark and Trey Phillips finished as national the runner-up.
• Texas improves to 5-0 in five trips to the semifinals of the NCAA Doubles Championship (since 1975).
• Texas is seeking its first NCAA Doubles title in the modern era. UT has won five national titles in doubles (1923, 1924, 1931, 1943, 1944).
CAMILLONE/HOLINER SEASON TIMELINE
• Sept. 7, 2012: began the season ranked No. 8 in the ITA Doubles poll.
• Won seven of their first eight doubles matches.
• Nov. 9, 2012: advanced to the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships (received a bid to the tournament as an alternate).
• Began the dual match season with a 4-2 record.
• Played in only one doubles match together from March 15 to May 10.
• Went 1-1 in the team NCAA tournament.
• As an unseeded team in the NCAA Doubles Championship, defeated the No. 1 seed, No. 5 seed and No. 3 seed to advance to the national title match.
TEXAS IN THE NCAA DOUBLES FINAL (since 1975)
2013 – Chris Camillone / David Holiner
1995 – Chad Clark / Trey Phillips
1990 – Mitch Michulka / Michael Penman
1985 – Charles Beckman / Royce Deppe
1978 – Gary Plock / Kevin Curren
TEXAS DOUBLES NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
1923: Lew White / Louis Thallheimer
1924: Lew White / Louis Thallheimer
1931: Bruce Barnes / Karl Kamrath
1943: John Hickman / Walter Driver
1944: John Hickman / Felix Kelley
QUOTES
Head Coach Michael Center
On the third set…
“After we held serve when we were down 3-1, you could feel the momentum shifting in our favor. They made a couple spectacular plays to hold serve and from that point on our guys were amazing. I don’t know what else to say. When moments got away from them, they weren’t down mentally for one second. They served great. They returned great. They put balls away. They just played unbelievable tennis in the last four games to win the match. I’m so proud of them. We are really excited about tomorrow for a chance to play for a national title.”
On the rain delay…
“It was tough. I don’t think it gave either team an advantage. It is just one of those things you have to deal with.”
On Chris Camillone and David Holiner’s play during the tournament…
“They are really having fun and are relaxed. They are not letting one bad point turn into two or three bad points. They are really competing well for each and every point. They have been a great team. They have picked each other up. The attitude and energy level has been off the charts.
“They came here with nothing to lose. We were all a little surprised that they got into draw. They didn’t finish the year the way that they thought they could play. They came here with a fresh mentality after practicing and training well before they came. When moments got away from them, they haven’t been down for one second. They keep picking each other up. They have also returned the ball so well. It’s really been some unbelievable stuff out of their return games.”
Junior David Holiner
“The fans can sense that we’re a little less uptight than the other teams here. Really, we’re not supposed to be here, so we’re just kind of keeping that mentality of trying to stay loose and going for it.”
“We’re not really worried about where we’re playing or what we’re doing. We’re just kind of having the mindset of going after every single point. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing on a mud court; we’re just going to go out there, fight as hard as we can and go for it.”
Senior Chris Camillone
“What do you say at this point? We didn’t think we’d be playing in the tournament. To be honest, we didn’t think we’d be winning any of the rounds we’ve been winning, so it’s just kind of a close your eyes and go through it sort of thing.”
“You have to have fun when you know you’re not supposed to be on the court with the people you’re on the court with. It’s fortunate for us because we feel like we can play at this level, and we get to play the underdog more than we should because of our ranking. In the points that we lost, you could tell we were getting a little anxious and angry and letting the communication kind of fall apart. (Having fun) is the only way we’re going to do well and the only way we’re going to put games on the board tomorrow.”
