Feb. 29, 2012

Tennessee's Mikelis Libietis was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after earning his first pair of top-40 singles victories, the league office announced Wednesday.

Playing at the top of both lineups, Libietis won 2 of 3 singles matches and one doubles match to help the Vols to a 3-0 performance at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.

Libietis is off to a 14-5 start in his singles career at Tennessee and collected the two best wins of his career over the weekend. He defeated No. 33 Gonzalo Escobar of Texas Tech 6-4, 6-1 and No. 34 James Meredith of Boise State 6-3, 6-1 to improve to 3-4 against ranked opponents in his young career.

In doubles, Libietis excelled there too. He and fellow freshman Hunter Reese won their only completed match, defeated 50th-ranked Meredith and Nathan Sereke 8-3.

The freshman duo is now 8-2 in dual matches at the No. 1 position and 14-4 overall.

Libietis shot up in the ITA national rankings as a result of his performance at the Blue Gray. He is now No. 36 in singles and No. 17 in doubles with Reese.

The Vols begin SEC play this weekend on the road against Florida at 5 p.m.

Libietis' Results
Singles
#75 Yannick Maden (Clemson) def. Mikelis Libietis (UT), 7-6, 6-3
Mikelis Libietis (UT) def. #33 Gonzalo Escobar (Texas Tech), 6-4, 6-1
Mikelis Libietis (UT) def. #34 James Meredith (Boise State), 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
Libietis/Reese (UT) def. #50 Meredith/Sereke (Boise State), 8-3