Univ. of Texas at Austin Team Page
URBANA, Ill. - Texas advanced to the quarterfinals of both the NCAA Singles Championship and NCAA Doubles Championship on Friday as Søren Hess-Olesen defeated Marcos Giron of UCLA and Chris Camillone and David Holiner defeated No. 1-seed Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese of Tennessee.
"It was a great day for Texas," head coach Michael Center said. "Søren played a terrific match and really finished strong. I thought he played really aggressive with a lot of poise. I liked the way he finished the match to beat one of the best players in the country. For Chris (Camillone) and David (Holiner) to come out and beat the No. 1 seed here - I thought they really kept their composure and didn't panic. It was fun to watch."
Camillone and Holiner's straight-set win over the top-seeded team in the tournament earned the duo ITA All-American status. To be named All-American in doubles a team must be a top-eight seed in NCAA Doubles Championships, reach quarterfinals of NCAA Doubles Championship or finish in top-10 of the final ITA Rankings.
Texas is the only school remaining in the quarterfinals of both the NCAA Men's Singles Championship and NCAA Men's Doubles Championship this week. It is the fourth time in program history that Texas has representatives in the quarterfinals of both the NCAA's singles and doubles draws.
Hess-Olesen fought his way to his second three-set victory of the tournament after losing the first against Giron, 6-3, on Friday. Hess-Olesen responded with a 6-3 second-set win and a commanding 6-2 win in the third set.
"Søren stayed with it today, there was no panic in him at all," Center said. "He played more physical as the match went on. At the end, I thought he was pushing Giron around and played with great aggressiveness. When you play a guy like that, he is not just going to give it to you - you have to earn it. Søren really earned it today."
Hess-Olesen's seventh consecutive victory sets up a rematch against Virginia's Jarmere Jenkins in the quarterfinals on Saturday. The then-No. 5 Jenkins defeated Hess-Olesen in straight sets on March 15 this season in Austin. Jenkins is the No. 3 seed in the tournament.
Camillone and Holiner also had a rematch of their own on Friday. Their first win as a team against a nationally ranked opponent was against No. 1 Libietis and Reese in the USTA/ITA National Indoor Championships on Nov. 3, 2011. The Texas duo used Friday's opportunity to prove again that they belong among the nation's elite.
"(Libietis and Resse of Tennessee) were the No. 1 seed in the tournament, but Chris and David had actually beaten them before," Center said. "I don't think they were intimidated by the moment at all - they felt pretty confident that they would have a good chance to win today."
The teams went back and forth through both sets, with Camillone and Holiner taking the first, 7-6, after a tiebreaker. The duo took another second set by a score of 7-5 to clinch a berth in the quarterfinals.
"It was obviously really close," Center said. "There were moments where both teams could have gone away, but they both hung in there. We just made a few more plays at the end. We returned the ball particularly well today. We made some big returns in key moments. Overall it was a really good effort."
First serve times for Saturday's quarterfinal round will be announced at the end of the day. Live scoring and video of the NCAA Championship singles and doubles draws are available through FightingIllini.com.
RESULTS
NCAA Men's Tennis Championship
Urbana, Ill. • Atkins Tennis Center
Singles Draw (64)
Round of 16: #37 Søren Hess-Olesen (UT) def. #25 Marcos Giron (UCLA) - 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Quaterfinals: #37 Søren Hess-Olesen (UT) vs. Jarmere Jenkins (Virginia) - Saturday
Doubles Draw (32)
Round of 16: #41 Chris Camillon / David Holiner (UT) vs. #1 Mikelis Libietis / Hunter Reese (Tennessee) - 7-6(5), 7-5
Quaterfinals: #41 Chris Camillone / David Holiner (UT) vs. #5 Hernus Pieters / Ben Wagland (Georgia) - Saturday
