WACO, Texas – Texas A&M senior Jeremy Efferding saw his run at the NCAA Singles Championships come to an end Friday afternoon at the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco. The All-American fell in straight sets to No. 8 Ryan Shane of Virginia.
Playing through a trio of rain delays, totaling less than 30 minutes, Shane and No. 47 Efferding traded points on serve through the first eight games. Nearing the end of the first set the Cavalier junior took the first break of the match to lead 5-4, holding serve on the next point to take the first set 6-4.
The second set mirrored the first, both players holding serve for the first eight games before Shane was able to get a break and take a 5-4 lead into his final serve of the match. The nation's 8th-ranked player held serve and win 6-4 in both sets to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Boca Raton native garnered All-American honors for the first time in his career after advancing to the NCAA round of 16 this week in Waco. Efferding ends his career in College Station as a three-time All-SEC selection, named to the first team his sophomore and senior seasons and second-team as a junior. The right-hander was at his best in pressure situations in the SEC Tournament, earning All-SEC Tournament honors in 2013 and 2015 including Tournament MVP honors this spring in College Station.
Efferding made Texas A&M history his sophomore season becoming the first Aggie to defeat the nation's number one ranked player, upsetting eventual national champion Virginia's Alex Domijan, 6-3, 7-6 (4), at the No. 2 line on March 13. The four-year letterman ends his collegiate career with 98 singles wins against just 47 defeats, additionally Efferding tallied 87 doubles wins in four years in College Station. The University Studies major ranks 20th all-time in the A&M record books with 58 dual singles victories and 16th in doubles dual wins with 59.
Texas A&M recently completed the team portion of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championship, finishing the season 24-5 after being eliminated by eventual national champion Virginia, 4-0, in the national quarterfinals. It marked the second time in program history the Aggies advanced to the Elite 8.
Visit 12thMan.com for Friday's match times and an updated bracket once they are available from the NCAA. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M men's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieMTEN or on Facebook at Facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
Quotes
Senior All-American Jeremy Efferding
On Friday's match…
I enjoyed the match today, it was a great opportunity to play really high level tennis. Ryan is a phenomenal player and we played a really good match today. Obviously it is tough when you lose, if I had to lose I wanted to go out the way I did. I had no regrets after the match and I utilized every chance I had. At the end of the day he came up with a couple incredible shots on key points and you have to tip your hat to him.
On his four years in Aggieland…
Texas A&M has meant the world to me. I say it all the time, but my time at A&M has been phenomenal and it has been the best four years of my life. I can honestly say that mentally, spiritually, physically and educationally the school has helped mature and grow both as a player and a person more than I thought was possible. I cannot thank the coaches, professors and staff in College Station enough for all that they have meant to me over the past four years.
Texas A&M Head Coach Steve Denton
On Friday's match…
The match came down to Ryan playing unreal tennis when he was on break points. He had a couple second-serve aces on break points and he made first serves when he needed them. In the couple opportunities that Jeremy gave him today he was able to take advantage and come out ahead. That was the difference in the match today; in a really close match Ryan stepped up and played great tennis when it really mattered. Jeremy played really well today, but Ryan was just a little bit better.
On Jeremy's impact on the Texas A&M tennis program…
Jeremy has been the face of our program basically since he stepped foot on campus. He has done an unreal job in the A&M uniform, we ask these players to leave the program in a better place after they have played four years and he has definitely done that. He has been an incredible leader and a great ambassador for our program. It was a pleasure to coach him and I wish him all the best moving forward on the courts and off.
2015 NCAA Singles Championship
Waco, Texas – Hurd Tennis Center
Round of 64
#47 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) def. #27 Ore Ram-Harel (Tulsa) 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-2
Round of 32
#47 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) def. #16 Romain Bogaerts (WF) 6-2, 6-0
Round of 16
#8 Ryan Shane (UVA) def. #47 Jeremy Efferding (TAMU) 6-4, 6-4
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