TULSA, Oklahoma – Senior Shane Vinsant of the Texas A&M men's tennis team advanced to the third round of the ITA All-American Main Draw held Friday afternoon at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Vinsant was the first Aggie on the court and the nation's 35th ranked player picked up his second ranked win in as many days, defeating No. 37 Naoki Takeda of Arizona in three sets. The Keller, Texas native advanced to the third round of the ITA All-American Main Draw for the first time in his collegiate career.
"After a tough tiebreaker in the first set I began playing a little more aggressive," Vinsant said. "I was especially aggressive on my return game and (Naoki) Takeda did not seem to like that style of play. I started to settle into the match and really made it a point to compete hard."
In Saturday's third round, Vinsant will take on No. 14 Ronnie Schneider of North Carolina for a place in Sunday's quarterfinals and the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships on Nov. 12-15, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. Singles quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions from the ITA All-American will receive an automatic entry into the event next month.
"I know that Ronnie (Schneider) is a really tough player," Vinsant added. "He is a really good competitor that likes to control points with his forehand. I will have my hands full and will have a couple things from his game that I will need to neutralize."
Sophomore No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech took No. 8 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski of Virginia to a third set before falling 6-3 and ending his run in the Main Draw in Tulsa. The Paris, France native suffered his first defeat of the fall after winning five straight matches to open his sophomore campaign
For more information about Texas A&M men's tennis log on to 12thMan.com or follow the Aggies on twitter at @AggieMTEN or facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
ITA All-American Main Draw Round of 32
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M def. No. 37 Naoki Takeda, Arizona 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-1
No. 8 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, Virginia def. No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech, Texas A&M 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
ITA All-American Main Draw Round of 16
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M vs. No. 14 Ronnie Schneider, North Carolina
ITA All-American Main Draw Consolation Round of 32
No. 34 Sam Shropshire, Northwestern def. No. 55 AJ Catanzariti, Texas A&M 6-3, 6-4
ITA All-American Doubles Main Draw Consolation Round of 16
Andreas Bjerrehus & Joao Monteiro, Virginia Tech def. Jordi Arconada & Max Lunkin, Texas A&M 7-6(5), 6-4
Vinsant was the first Aggie on the court and the nation's 35th ranked player picked up his second ranked win in as many days, defeating No. 37 Naoki Takeda of Arizona in three sets. The Keller, Texas native advanced to the third round of the ITA All-American Main Draw for the first time in his collegiate career.
"After a tough tiebreaker in the first set I began playing a little more aggressive," Vinsant said. "I was especially aggressive on my return game and (Naoki) Takeda did not seem to like that style of play. I started to settle into the match and really made it a point to compete hard."
In Saturday's third round, Vinsant will take on No. 14 Ronnie Schneider of North Carolina for a place in Sunday's quarterfinals and the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships on Nov. 12-15, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. Singles quarterfinalists, doubles finalists and consolation champions from the ITA All-American will receive an automatic entry into the event next month.
"I know that Ronnie (Schneider) is a really tough player," Vinsant added. "He is a really good competitor that likes to control points with his forehand. I will have my hands full and will have a couple things from his game that I will need to neutralize."
Sophomore No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech took No. 8 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski of Virginia to a third set before falling 6-3 and ending his run in the Main Draw in Tulsa. The Paris, France native suffered his first defeat of the fall after winning five straight matches to open his sophomore campaign
For more information about Texas A&M men's tennis log on to 12thMan.com or follow the Aggies on twitter at @AggieMTEN or facebook.com/AggieMensTennis.
ITA All-American Main Draw Round of 32
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M def. No. 37 Naoki Takeda, Arizona 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-1
No. 8 Thai-Son Kwiatkowski, Virginia def. No. 53 Arthur Rinderknech, Texas A&M 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
ITA All-American Main Draw Round of 16
No. 35 Shane Vinsant, Texas A&M vs. No. 14 Ronnie Schneider, North Carolina
ITA All-American Main Draw Consolation Round of 32
No. 34 Sam Shropshire, Northwestern def. No. 55 AJ Catanzariti, Texas A&M 6-3, 6-4
ITA All-American Doubles Main Draw Consolation Round of 16
Andreas Bjerrehus & Joao Monteiro, Virginia Tech def. Jordi Arconada & Max Lunkin, Texas A&M 7-6(5), 6-4