PADUCAH, Ky. - Led by OVC Player of the Year Dean O'Brien and
Freshman of the Year Justin Kirstein, the Tennessee Tech men's
tennis team advanced to the semi-finals of the 2009 OVC Tennis
Championship with a 4-1 win over Eastern Illinois on Friday
afternoon.
The Golden Eagles took the doubles point and followed that up with
wins at number one, four and five to claim the win.
"The guys fought hard out there today," said coach Dan Silverstein.
"They played like a team to get the win and they all wanted to win
this for each other."
Tech got things started off by winning at number two doubles when
the team of sophomore Lloyd Harris and freshman Alex Chen took an
8-4 win from Matyas Hilgert and Vance Davis. At number three,
Kirstein teamed up with Oscar Pachon to take the 8-5 win from Jeff
Rutherford and Jamie Firth to clinch the doubles point for the
Golden Eagles.
Singles picked up right where Tech wanted it to.
Pachon and Kirstein carried their doubles success into singles,
both picking up straight sets wins to give Tech the 3-0 lead. The
Panthers' lone point came at number two where sophomore Josh
Girling fell to Jordan Nestrund.
No. 110 O'Brien started off slowly, allowing Rutherford to claim
the first set 6-4, but Tech's standout sophomore rebounded and only
allowed him to win one more game on the way to picking up the 4-6,
6-1, 6-0 win. It marks the second straight season that O'Brien has
earned at least 18 wins in a single season.
Tech (12-7) advances to play No. 2 Jacksonville State in the OVC
Semi-finals Saturday at 2 p.m. in Paducah, Ky. The winner of the
match will play the winner of No. 1 Eastern Kentucky and No. 4
Murray State for the OVC Tournament Title on Sunday at 2 p.m.
April 16, 2009
O'Brien, Holtzhausen and Kirstein honored by OVC
April 15, 2009
Sophomore Dean O'Brien takes home fourth weekly OVC honor
April 14, 2009
Tech tennis teams bid for OVC titles this weekend in Paducah
April 10, 2009
Tech Tennis drops final home matches of season to EKU
April 2, 2009
Holtzhausen, O'Brien earned second straight OVC honor
April 1, 2009
Golden Eagles get clean sweep of Govs, 7-0
March 26, 2009
Holtzhausen, O'Brien take both weekly OVC awards
March 21, 2009
Golden Eagle men win, women lose in matches with UT Martin
March 18, 2009
Golden Eagle netters tripped by No. 62 Georgia Tech, 5-2
March 18, 2009
Tech and UTC split matches before conference play starts
March 13, 2009
Tech Tennis splits matches with powerhouse West Florida
February 21, 2009
Tech falls by slimmest of margins to Butler, 4-3
February 20, 2009
Tech returns from two-week layoff to trounce ISU Sycamores, 6-1
February 19, 2009
Sophomore Dean O'Brien earns ITA National Ranking
February 10, 2009
Borja Zarco recipient of annual Johnny Donnelly Scholarship
January 24, 2009
Unbeaten O'Brien claims another win, but tennis team drops 6-1 match
January 23, 2009
Men's tennis team meets strong Middle Tennessee team in Nashville
January 18, 2009
O'Brien knocks off No. 29 in singles, Tech drops two on road
December 31, 2008
Golden Eagle men's tennis team opens spring season this weekend
November 19, 2008
Golden Eagle Tennis is looking for past players
October 22, 2008
Golden Eagles put up fight at ITA Fall Regional
October 15, 2008
Golden Eagles get ready for ITA Regionals at Kentucky
October 12, 2008
Golden Eagles look toward ITA Regionals after scrimmage
