CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech tennis team cleared a
major hurdle Saturday with a 5-2 road win over Austin Peay,
clinching at least a share of the 2013 OVC Tennis regular season
title. The Golden Eagles can claim the crown outright Sunday with a
win at Murray State.
Tech's 16th consecutive OVC regular season victory snapped Austin
Peay's 14-match winning streak and left coach Kenny Doyle's team
with an 8-0 record this spring in conference clashes. Regardless of
the outcome Sunday at Murray State, Tech will head to the OVC
Championships in Paducah, Ky., as the number one seeded team.
The Golden Eagles got the drop on the Govs by winning the doubles
point with victories at the top two spots for a 1-0 lead. Syrym
Abdukhalikov and Alejandro Augusto cruised to an 8-2 victory on the
No. 1 court over Sean Bailey and Jasmin Ademovic. On the No. 2
court, Artem Tarasov and Vasily Eremeev claimed an 8-4 victory over
Dimitar Ristovski and Iago Seffrin. The No. 3 doubles contest went
unfinished after Tech clinched the point.
All six singles contests were won in straight sets, with the Golde
Eagles getting wins in four spots.
Abdukhalikov won his eighth consecutive match and improved to 8-0
in the OVC and 13-2 in dual matches when he took a 6-4, 6-2
decision from Bailey in the No. 1 position. Augusto also improved
to 8-0 in OVC matches and 12-3 overall in dual matches as he earned
a similar, 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 over Ademovic.
Eremeev won his battle at No. 4 singles, disposing of Aleksas
Tverijonas, 6-3, 7-5, lifting his record in OVC matches to 8-0. The
final Tech point came courtesy of Arturo Santa at No. 6, where he
posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over Evan Borowski.
The Govs two points came at No. 3 and No. 5. Dimitar Ristovski
downed Tarasov, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 3, while John Storie claimed a
7-6, 6-2 win over Alvaro Cintas at No. 5.
Tennessee Tech
5, Austin Peay 2
Apr 13, 2013 at Clarksville, Tenn.
Singles competition |
1. Syrym Abdukhalikov (TTU) def. BAILEY, Sean (APSU) 6-4, 6-2 |
2. Alejandro Augusto (TTU) def. ADEMOVIC, Jasmin (APSU) 6-3, 6-4 |
3. RISTOVSKI, Dimitar (APSU) def. Artem Tarasov (TTU) 7-5, 6-0 |
4. Vasily Eremeev (TTU) def. TVERIJONAS, Aleksas (APSU) 6-3, 7-5 |
5. STORIE, John (APSU) def. Alvaro Cintas (TTU) 7-6, 6-2 |
6. Arturo Santa Ruiz (TTU) def. BOROWSKI, Evan (APSU) 6-4, 6-1 |
Doubles competition |
1. Syrym Abdukhalikov/Alejandro Augusto (TTU) def. BAILEY, Sean/ADEMOVIC, Jasmin (APSU) 8-2 |
2. Artem Tarasov/Vasily Eremeev (TTU) def. RISTOVSKI, Dimitar/SEFFRIN, Iago (APSU) 8-4 |
3. TVERIJONAS, Aleksas/STORIE, John (APSU) vs. Othon Lima/Alvaro Cintas (TTU) 5-4, unfinished |
Match Notes |
Tennessee Tech 8-9 |
Austin Peay 14-3 |