Golden Eagles claim 5-2 victory over Tennessee State in Horizon League home opener
A stellar singles showing helped propel the Tennessee Tech tennis team to a 5-2 win over Tennessee State in Sunday’s Horizon League home opener.
By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A stellar singles showing helped propel the Tennessee Tech tennis team to a 5-2 win over Tennessee State in Sunday's Horizon League home opener.
After the Tigers (2-12, 1-1 HL) claimed the doubles point to take the early lead in the match, the Golden Eagles soared during singles play behind victories in five-of-six battles to roll to a 2-0 conference start.
Tech (8-7, 2-0 HL) is now 8-3 over its last 11 contests.
"What a huge win today," TTU head coach Mark Klysner said. "We didn't play our best doubles today, and credit to TSU as they came out with more energy than we did and it showed. But boy did the guys turn it up in singles play. I think we had way more focus and energy and it showed. Really happy with how we turned it around."
Alex Alvarez helped pace the purple and gold with a straight-set win out of the No. 2 spot that saw the 5-foot-11 junior out of Barcelona, Spain secure a 6-3 triumph in the first set and a 6-0 nod in the second set over James Adler. Alvarez's win was one of four in straight sets for the Golden Eagles.
Davids Spaks earned a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Nicholas Adamec in the No. 3 position, while Diego Munoz notched a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Mete Koseoglu in the No. 4 meeting and Ricard Garavi Yepez picked up a 7-5, 6-1 win against Christopher Bogelin in the No. 6 gathering.
Murilo Burckhardt's No. 5 tangle saw the junior from Telemaco Borba, Brazil erase an early deficit to Alexander Adamec after Adamec captured the opening set, 6-1. Burckhardt went on to take each of the next two sets by 6-2 margins to complete the comeback and seize the solo triumph.
Taj Hibbert was responsible for Tennessee State's lone singles victory with a 6-4, 6-1 nod over Oliver Dao in the No. 1 get-together.
The Tigers won both completed doubles matchups thanks to a Taj Hibbert and Mete Koseoglu 6-1 win against Alex Alvarez and Davids Spaks in the No. 1 spot and an Alexander Adamec and James Adler Germinal 7-5 decision over Murilo Burckhardt and Diego Munoz in the No. 3 clash.
The No. 2 tandem tussle pitting Oliver Dao and Linus Rohlin against Nicholas Adamec and Tatenda Mutetwa did not finish with the score situated at 5-5 at the time it was called.
The Golden Eagles will dip out of conference with a Tuesday, Mar. 31 home match against Cumberland. First serve in Cookeville is slated for 2 p.m. CT and admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo: Jim Dillon
