The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Søren Hess-Olesen vs. Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA)
Hess-Olesen advances to NCAA Singles Championship semifinals
05.24.2014 | Men's Tennis
Søren Hess-Olesen advances to singles semifinals; Glasspool/Hess-Olesen withdraw from doubles quarterfinals.
• @TexasMTN
• NCAA Individual Championships Results
• Hess-Olesen season results
ATHENS, Ga. -- Two-time All-American Søren Hess-Olesen became the first Longhorn in 21 years to advance to the NCAA Singles Championship semifinals after defeating UCLA's Mackenzie McDonald in three sets (6-3, 0-6, 6-2) on Saturday afternoon at Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
Hess-Olesen (32-7) is the seventh Longhorn to reach the NCAA Singles Championship semifinals and the first since David Draper in 1993. He will face UCLA's second-ranked Marcos Giron in the semifinals on Sunday at 11 a.m. Central.
"Søren is excited to keep in the hunt for a national championship -- this was a really good win for him," head coach Michael Center said. "(Mackenzie) McDonald is a great player and really took it to Søren's serve in the second set. But Søren responded and was able to get up a break early in the third set and close out the match well."
The Denmark native won the first set, 6-3, behind a late service break that gave him a 5-3 advantage. In the last two games of the first set Hess-Olesen did not allow a point.
Hess-Olesen then lost the second set, 6-0. In his three-year collegiate career, he has only been shutout in a set four times, while handing out 15 set shutouts. Saturday became the first career match he won despite losing a set 6-0.
In the third set, Hess-Olesen broke serve on the first game to aid an early 2-0 advantage. After both players served out the next four games, Hess-Olesen took a commanding 5-2 lead with another service break. Hess-Olesen served the final game to clinch the set and the match, 6-2.
In doubles, Hess-Olesen and partner Lloyd Glasspool withdrew from Saturday's NCAA Doubles Championship quarterfinal due to injury. The 16th-ranked All-American duo finish the season with a 27-12 record, including 14 wins over ranked opponents.
"It's a shame Søren and Lloyd had to pull out, because I feel like they had a legitimate chance to win the doubles bracket," Center said. "For them to make All-American status this season is an outstanding achievement. Last year they were playing No. 3 doubles for us and now they are one of the best teams in the country."
Live scoring and video of Hess-Olesen's NCAA Singles Championship semifinal match on Sunday (11 a.m. Central) can be viewed on NCAA.com.
RESULTS
NCAA Men's Tennis Championships
Singles Quarterfinal
#16 Søren Hess-Olesen (Texas) def. #35 Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) 6-3, 0-6, 6-2
Doubles Quarterfinal
#3 Kobelt/ Metka (Ohio State) def. #16 Glasspool/Hess-Olesen (Texas) walkover
HISTORY
UT NCAA Singles Semifinalists (Year - Finish)
Søren Hess-Olesen (2014 - TBD)
David Draper (1993 - Semifinalist)
Steve Bryan (1990 - Champion)
Jonny Levine (1984 - Semifinalist)
Kevin Curren (1979 - Champion)
Berkeley Bell (1929 - Champion)
Wilmer Allison (1927 - Champion)
