ATLANTA, Ga. – The Golden Eagles went down fighting,
refusing to leave town without something to show for their efforts.
So, after Georgia Tech had clinched the match with the first five
points, Tennessee Tech scratched out wins in the final two contests
in falling to the No. 62 ranked Yellow Jackets, 5-2, Tuesday
afternoon.
Georgia Tech improved to 6-6 overall while Tech’s record
slipped to 2-5.
The Golden Eagles play at Chattanooga on Wednesday, then come home
for the first time this season to host three matches over the
weekend. Tech entertains Morehead State Friday in its first Ohio
Valley Conference match of the year, then hosts UT Martin on
Saturday and Appalachian State Sunday.
Georgia Tech claimed the point in doubles play, winning at No. 2
and No. 3, before the Golden Eagles earned a victory at No. 1 by
Dean O’Brien and Josh Girling. Tech’s top duo defeated
Guillermo Gomez and Ryan Smith, 8-5.
The first match off the court was an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles by
Doug Kenny and Kevin King, who downed Mario Gutierrez and Justin
Kirstein. At No. 3, the Yellowjackets clinched the point when
Austin Roebuck and Miguel Muguruza notched an 8-5 win over Alex
Chen and Oscar Pachon.
The host team put wins on the board in the first four singles
matches to clinch the day.
Dusan Miljevic got the ‘Jackets started with a straight set
win at No. 6, topping Gutierrez, 6-0, 6-0. The Georgia Tech lead
went to 3-0 when Kevin King earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kirstein
at No. 4.
The clincher came at the No. 1 singles court, where 12th ranked
Gomez stopped O’Brien, 6-3, 6-4, to make it a 4-0 lead.
Georgia Tech made it 5-0 with a straight set win at No. 3 as
Muguruza beat Girling, 6-4, 6-2.
The Golden Eagles posted their first point at No. 2, as Alex Chen
took a three-set win over Eliot Potvin, 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7).
Pachon earned Tech’s second point at No. 5, the last match on
the courts, outlasting Ryan Smith for a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory.
#62 Georgia Tech 5, Tennessee Tech 2
Singles competition
1. #12 Guillermo Gomez (GT) def. O'BRIEN, Dean (TTU) 6-3, 6-4
2. CHEN, Alex (TTU) def. Eliot Potvin (GT) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-7)
3. Miguel Muguruza (GT) def. GIRLING, Josh (TTU) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kevin King (GT) def. KIRSTEIN, Justin (TTU) 6-1, 6-0
5. PACHON, Oscar (TTU) def. Ryan Smith (GT) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4
6. Dusan Miljevic (GT) def. GUTIERREZ, Mario (TTU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. O'BRIEN, Dean/GIRLING, Josh (TTU) def. #61 Guillermo Gomez/Ryan
Smith (GT) 8-5
2. Doug Kenny/Kevin King (GT) def. GUTIERREZ, Mario/KIRSTEIN,
Justin (TTU) 8-2
3. Austin Roebuck/Miguel Muguruza (GT) def. CHEN, Alex/PACHON,
Oscar (TTU) 8-5
Match Notes: Tennessee Tech 2-5 Georgia Tech 6-6;
National ranking #62 Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles
(6,4,1,3,2,5) 64 degrees, sunny, windy ENE at 4 mph #2 singles
played tiebreaker instead of full third set since match was
clinched T-3:05