By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech tennis team could be
facing a couple of must-win situations this weekend when it wraps
up the regular season with two home matches. The outcomes could
determine whether the Golden Eagles reach the Ohio Valley
Conference Tournament.
The Golden Eagles will welcome Eastern Kentucky Saturday and
Morehead State on Sunday. Both matches begin at 11 a.m. on the Tech
campus tennis courts. Admission is free.
Tech comes into the weekend with a 3-4 conference record, putting
the Golden Eagles in seventh place. The top six teams will play in
the tournament, April 17-19 in Paducah, so Tech must find a way to
move up at least one spot. What makes the weekend more interesting
is the fact that both visiting teams are also in the hunt for
tournament berths.
Eastern Kentucky is one spot behind Tech with a 3-5 record, while
Morehead State is in fourth place with a 4-3 record. The MSU Eagles
are one of three teams with three losses (SIUE and Eastern Illinois
are both 3-3) that Tech is chasing.
Tech owns a commanding 48-19 all-time record in the series with
Eastern Kentucky, but the Colonels have won five of the past seven
matches. The Golden Eagles claimed a 4-3 win a year ago on the EKU
courts, while the Colonels elimiated Tech from the OVC Tournament
in 2012 in Nashville.
EKU doesn't have anybody who has dominated in singles play this
spring, but does boast three players with wins in double digits.
The leader is Daridge Saidi who is 11-9 overall, including a 5-2
mark at No. 2 singles. FLorian Graskamp is 10-8 overall, with a 5-4
mark at No. 5 singles. At the top of the lineup, ALex Alvaro is
10-10 overall, with a 3-5 record at No. 1 and a 7-5 mark at No.
2.
Alvaro ad Juanjo La Llera have a 7-5 record at No. 1 to pace EKU
in doubles play.
Morehead State trails in the all-time series with Tech, 38-19, and
the Golden Eagles have won eight consecutive meetings with MSU.
The Eagles have had success in several spots in the lineup on
their way to a 9-7 overall record. The top record on the team
belongs to David Clifford, who is 12-4 overall including 12-2 at
No. 5 singles. Giovanni Samaha has built a 10-5 record in the No. 2
slot, Gabriel Ruiz is 9-6 at No. 6, and Nick Mercer has gone 8-6 at
No. 4.
In doubles, Ruiz and Samaha are 6-2 at No. 3, while the No. 1 pair
of Ji Hoon Heo and Jack Swindells are 7-7 overall.
Tech is paced by sophomore Oleksiy Arovin
in the No. 1 spot, where he is 13-2 in dual matches and 20-10
overall in his first season since transferring from Oklahoma State.
Freshman Alberto
Esteban has also produced a winning record in singles action,
posting a 7-5 record including a 7-2 worksheet at No. 2
singles.
Tech's two top doubles pairings are both 3-1 in conference play
and one win above .500 for the year. Arovin and Esteban are 5-4 in
dual doubles contests at No. 1, while senior Vasily Eremeev
(in photo above) and junior Artem Tarasov
own a 6-5 mark at No. 2.
The weekend will mark the final home matches in the four-year
career of Eremeev, the lone senior on the Tech roster.
April 16, 2014
Arovin, Esteban earn first-team all-OVC tennis team honors
April 13, 2014
Golden Eagles top Morehead State, 5-2, in season finale
April 12, 2014
Eastern Kentucky captures 5-2 OVC win over Golden Eagles
April 6, 2014
Golden Eagles blank Tennessee State in Sunday OVC match
March 23, 2014
Golden Eagles drop close contest at SIUE
March 22, 2014
Eastern Illinois grabs 5-2 OVC home win over Golden Eagles
March 14, 2014
Tech's begins quest for third straight OVC Championship
March 7, 2014
Golden Eagles face pair of matches in Georgia
February 28, 2014
Golden Eagles slip past Lipscomb for first dual match victory
February 26, 2014
Golden Eagles face Lipscomb Friday at Richland Country Club
February 16, 2014
Georgia State edges past Golden Eagle tennis team, 4-3
February 14, 2014
One day later than expected, Tech visits Georgia State Sunday morning
February 9, 2014
UNC Asheville Bulldogs claim 6-1 win over Tennessee Tech
February 6, 2014
Golden Eagle tennis team visits UNC Asheville for Sunday match
January 30, 2014
Road Tested: Long day in Louisville nets losses to Rockets and Cards
January 28, 2014
Golden Eagles in Louisville Thursday to face Rockets, Cardinals
January 23, 2014
Golden Eagle net squad in Chattanooga Saturday to face Mocs
January 18, 2014
No. 6 Volunteers sweep Golden Eagles in season-opening match
January 16, 2014
Golden Eagles open spring slate at No. 6 Tennessee Saturday
October 21, 2013
Golden Eagle tennis team puts up strong showing at Grizzly Open
October 11, 2013
Tech tennis team at USTA/ITA Regional Championships in Knoxville
September 29, 2013
Esteban shines for Golden Eagles at UTC/Steve Baras Fall Classic
September 27, 2013
Tech tennis team makes trip to 31st UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic
September 13, 2013
Golden Eagle tennis team opens 2013-14 season in Athens, Ga.