TENNESSEE VOLS TENNIS: Four head to regional tournament

Tennessee men's tennis will send four representatives to participate in the 2026 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Ohio Valley Regional Championships at the Farm & Forge Club in College Grove, Tennessee, from Oct. 8-13.

Competing in the event for the Vols will be junior Jose Garcia, sophomore Shion Itsusaki, freshman Daniel Jovanovski and junior Orel Kimhi.

This regional is the collegiate debut for Jovanovski and the Tennessee debut for Kimhi, who previously played at Oklahoma.

The event includes members from teams in the Ohio Valley Region, and it will start on Thursday with qualifying stages. The main draw will follow on Friday.

The two singles finalists from the tournament from all regions across the country will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, and the champion from the doubles side for each region will qualify for that event as well.

STRONG START

Itsusaki has started his sophomore season winning five matches and losing only once in singles in the first two fall events. The victories have not come easy, as four of the five have lasted three sets. Itsusaki looks to improve on an impressive freshman year when the Osaka, Japan, native posted a 9-5 record in singles play.

KEEPING MOMENTUM

Garcia will compete in his second straight Ohio Valley Regional for the Vols on Thursday. Garcia will look to build off a strong showing last year, when he claimed a round of 64 victory.

UP NEXTUT will head to the Peach State to take part in the RTC Collegiate Invite in Rome, Georgia, from Oct. 23-25.