Tech’s strong freshmen showing not enough in 4-3 loss at Kennesaw State
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team’s cluster of rookies played a role in every purple and gold point, but it ultimately wasn’t enough in a 4-3 loss Wednesday at Kennesaw State in TTU’s final tune-up before the start of OVC action.
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team's cluster of rookies played a role in every purple and gold point, but it ultimately wasn't enough in a 4-3 loss Wednesday at Kennesaw State in TTU's final tune-up before the start of OVC action.
The Golden Eagles (4-11) will unwrap their five-match conference slate with the club's first home affair, a Saturday meeting with Belmont from Tech Tennis Courts.
Freshmen Rafael Tosetto and Elias Grubert paved the way in the singles department with wins out of the No. 1 and No. 4 spots respectively. Tosetto, the only Golden Eagle to compete in the No. 1 slot this spring, secured a come-from-behind, three-set thrilling triumph with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 nod over Fermin Calvo Barcelo. Grubert needed only two sets to take care of business in his clash with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Gaston Muhammad in the No. 4 position.
The two TTU youngsters also helped lead the Golden Eagles to the doubles point over the Owls (6-8), as the freshmen tandem collected a 6-3 victory over Lucas de Torres Curth and Sebastian Osorio in the No. 3 battle. Tech officially clinched the point with a win in the No. 1 spot behind a Gonzalo Garcia and Carlos Vicente 6-4 triumph over Bryan Triana and Drew Lahey.
The No. 2 affair pitting Tech's Wenceslao Albin and Riku Kubota against Gaston Muhammad and Fermin Calvo Barcelo did not finish.
Albin and Kubota would go on to drop their respective singles duels toward the bottom of the lineup, as Kubota was upended 6-1, 6-4 by Sebastian Osorio in the No. 5 meeting, while Albin fell 7-6, 6-4 to Kevin Patel in the No. 6 get-together.
KSU also claimed victories in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions with a Lucas deTorres Curth 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 nod over Carlos Vicente in the No. 2 tilt and a Bryan Triana 6-0, 6-3 triumph against Gonzalo Garcia in the No. 3 spot.
The Golden Eagles will set their sights on Saturday's home opener with Belmont, welcoming the defending regular-season conference champions to Tech Tennis Courts for a 12 p.m. CT start. Although the Bruins claimed the regular-season crown, the Golden Eagles struck for revenge with a thrilling 4-3 win in last year's OVC Tournament championship match in Nashville.
Admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
