KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a high intensity match which saw the Lions struggle early in singles competition, the No. 18 Columbia men's tennis team rallied to earn a decisive 4-2 victory over the No. 16 Tennessee Volunteers as part of the ITA Kickoff Weekend on Sunday afternoon at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
 
After trailing 3-4 in the third set, senior Jackie Tang buckled down to win three consecutive games including two break points to clinch the team victory for the Lions.
 
With the win, Columbia (2-0) earns its spot in next month's 16-team ITA National Team Indoor Championship, marking the third-straight season in which the Lions have advanced to the tournament and the fifth time in six years.
 
For the second match in as many days, the Lions got off to a strong start by securing the all-important doubles point with triumphs on courts one and three. Despite Tennessee (6-1) grabbing the first win on the middle court, the Lions' three-team of Jason Lui/Adam Ambrozy responded with a 6-4 win, and third-ranked Tang/Jack Lin sealed the early lead with a 6-3 result on the top court.
 
It was clear from the start of singles play that neither team would go down easy. The Volunteers would claim 5-of-6 first sets, and ultimately even the team scoring at one apiece as No. 6 Lin fell to No. 23 Adam Walton, 6-4, 6-2.
 
A three-set win from first-year and 79th-ranked Alex Kotzen would help restore some energy in the Lions as both Rian Pandole and Austen Huang would go on to also force third sets, including a second-set comeback from Pandole after being down 4-5, winning three-straight games to take the set, 7-5.
 
Tennessee equalized once again as senior Adam Ambrozy dropped a hard-fought 7-6 (3), 7-5, decision on court five, but Huang forged ahead to give the Lions their third point with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles, giving No. 73 Tang the clinching opportunity.
 
Columbia will play its first home match of the 2020 campaign next Sunday, Feb. 2, welcoming the USF Bulls to the Dick Savitt Tennis Center.

For the latest on the Columbia men's tennis, follow @ColumbiaMTennis on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.