January 17, 2013

Golden Eagles handed 4-0 season-opening loss at No. 19 Tennessee

The Tennessee Tech tennis team opened the 2013 dual match schedule Thursday with a 4-0 loss at No. 19 Tennessee in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 19 Tennessee made quick work of Tennessee Tech Thursday afternoon in the season opener for both squads, the Vols taking a 4-0 victory at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

The Golden Eagles (0-1) got strong play in the top two singles positions, but neither match was played to completion as the Vols captured a couple of doubles matches for a 1-0 lead then posted three quick, straight set wins in singles to clinch the match.

At No. 1 singles, senior Syrym Abdukhalikov (serving above) captured a 7-5 victory in the first set against ninth-ranked Mikelis Libietis before the contest was called off.

At No. 2 singles, sophomore Alejandro Augusto (at the net above) was in a real battle with No. 40 Hunter Reese, trailing 7-6 in the first set when their match was ended.

Tennessee's first victory was an 8-0 win at No. 3 doubles when Reese and Brandon Fickey blanked Alvaro Cintas and Otho Lima. Tech's duo was making its collegiate debut.

The doubles point went to the Vols when Libietis and Jarryd Chaplin, ranked No. 26 in the nation, handed Augusto and Abdukhalikov an 8-1 loss.

The middle doubles match went unfinished, with Edward Jones and John Collins holding a 6-3 lead against Vasily Eremeev and Artem Tarasov.

After taking the doubles point, the Vols (1-0) were off the races in singles. Fickey rolled through his match with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Cintas at No. 4, and was followed a few minutes later by Chaplin's 6-1, 6-1 win over Eremeev on court 3. Jones' 6-1, 6-1 victory against Lima on court 6 finished the action.

Tech will play Oklahoma State Saturday at 6 p.m. on the same indoor courts in Knoxville.

Tennessee 4, Tennessee Tech
Singles
1. #9 Mikelis Libietis, UT, vs. Syrym Abdukhalikov, TTU, 5-7 unf.
2. #40 Hunter Reese, UT, vs. Alajandro Augusto, TTU, 7-6 unf.
3. Jarryd Chaplin, UT, def. Vasily Eremeev, TTU, 6-1, 6-1
4. Brandon Fickey, UT, def. Alvaro Cintas, TTU, 6-0, 6-0
5. John Collins, UT, vs. Artem Tarasov, TTU, 6-4, 2-2
6. Edward Jones, UT, def. Othon Lima, TTU, 6-1, 6-1

Doubles
1. #26 Libietis/Chaplin, UT, def. Augusto/Abdukhalikov, TTU, 8-1
2. Jones/Collins, UT, vs. Eremeev/Tarasov, TTU, 6-3 unf.
3. Reese/Fickey, UT, def. Cintas/Lima, TTU, 8-0

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1), Singles (4,6,3)