TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Tennessee Tech sophomore Dean O'Brien has
started the 2009 tennis season with a 3-0 record, including a
singles win over the 29th ranked player in the country in the
second match of the season.
His success wasn't enough to prevent the Golden Eagles from
dropping two close matches to open the season while visiting the
Sunshine state, with losses to Florida A&M and No. 11 Florida
State.
Tech opened the trip with a visit to Florida A&M. With only a
week of practice and the weather cooler than normal for the area,
the Golden Eagles fell to the host Rattlers, 5-2. O'Brien picked up
his first win of the dual match season with a 7-5, 6-1 trouncing of
Artiom Podgainii. Freshman Justin Kirstein picked up Tech's other
singles win over Paul Paige, 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles saw FAMU claim two wins, but it was the duo of O'Brien and
sophomore Josh Girling that got the win for the Golden Eagles
8-3.
With only a nights rest, Tech faced one of the best teams in
country. Florida State, No. 11 in the pre-season polls, wanted to
play singles first instead of doubles. It almost backfired.
The Seminoles got the first point of the match with a win at number
two singles. But Tech rebounded at number five with a win from
Kirstein over Drew Bailey, 6-4, 6-2.
With the score 3-1 in favor of FSU, O'Brien had the match of the
day with a three-set win over No. 29 Clint Bowles at the top
singles spot. The win moved O'Brien to 3-0 overall on the
season.
"I told Dean that he is one of the top players in the country, and
today proved it," Silverstein said. "A win of this caliber should
shoot him up into the singles rankings."
Tech (0-2, 0-0 OVC) has less than a week before they travel once
more, this time to Middle Tennessee State on Jan. 23. The match
will be played indoors in Nashville.
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