Zito wins flight in Blue Raiders' fall finale

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Freshman Ettore Zito earned his fourth consecutive singles victory to win his flight for the Blue Raider men’s tennis team at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships on Sunday afternoon at the University of Alabama. Zito and partner Matthew Langley came up just short of advancing to the doubles finals, while freshman Cameron Dickerson was edged in the singles consolation finals.

“I’m extremely proud of the way Zito performed this weekend,” head coach Jimmy Borendame said. “He played through some tough sets and showed a lot of poise to win his flight.”

Zito and Alabama’s Carlos Taborga seesawed through the first set before Zito came away with the victory. The Siracusa, Sicily, native pulled away in the second for the 6-1 win, marking the first flight title of his collegiate career.

Zito and Langley partnered against Alabama’s Harris Barnard and Stuart Kenyon in a grueling doubles contest. The two teams went to a tiebreaker where Barnard/Kenyon claimed a 7-3 win for match point.

Dickerson battled Samford’s Zac Dunkle before falling in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The Blue Raiders conclude fall action and will return to the court on Jan. 18 at Vanderbilt to open the season.

Sunday’s Results
Main Draw
Singles
Finals: Ettore Zito def. Carlos Taborga (UA) 7-5, 6-1

Doubles
Semifinals: Harris Barnard/Stuart Kenyon (UA) def. Matthew Langley/Ettore Zito (MT) vs. 9-8(3)

Consolation Draw
Singles
Finals: Zac Dunkle (SAM) def. Cameron Dickerson (MT) 6-3, 6-4

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