NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech had plenty of punch at the top end of its lineup Saturday evening, but couldn't produce any points from the bottom spots, dropping a 4-3 decision to Lipscomb in the Golden Eagle season opener at Richland Country Club.
The Golden Eagles captured the doubles point, winning two of the three matches, and claimed the two top singles events. But those three points were Tech's only scoring as Lipscomb swept the remaining four singles bouts to win the day.
Alex Arovin and Alberto Esteban, returning first-team all-OVC players for coach Kenny Doyle, easily captured their doubles win at the No. 1 spot, blanking Alex Pavel and Philippe Courteau, 6-0. Tech also got the win at No. 3 when Eduardo Mena and Alvaro Cintas outlasted Daniel Hernandez and Thais Minet, 7-6 (4). In between, Gagan Jain and Othon Lima were beaten by John TOugher and Rob Mitchell, 6-1.
Arovin and Esteban added singles wins. Arovin topped Mitchell in straight sets at No. 1, 6-2, 6-1. At the No. 2 spot, Esteban had a tougher time, battling back after dropping the first set to win, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Mena also went three sets at No. 3 singles, winning the middle set before falling to Alejandro Manzanares 6-4 3-6, 6-1. Lipscomb posted staight set wins in matches No. 4 through No. 6 to win the contest. At No. 4, Courteau downed Cintas, 6-1, 6-3 and at the No. 5 spot, Carlos Tejas endured a 6-0, 6-2 loss to Hernandez. The deciding point came at No. 6, where Lima put up a fight before losing a 6-3, 6-4 contest to Lipscomb's team capatin, Tougher.
The win was the fourth straight for Lipscomb (5-2), snapping a six-match losing streak to the Golden Eagles. Tech (0-1) is right back in action Sunday with a noon match against Middle Tennessee at Nashboro Village Athletic Club.
Lipscomb 4 – Tennessee Tech 3
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015
Richland Country Club
Doubles:
1. Alex Arovin/Alberto Esteban (TTU) def. Alex Pavel/Philippe Courteau (Lip.) 6-0
2. John Tougher/Rob Mitchell (Lip.) def. Gagan Jain/Othon Lima (TTU) 6-1
3. Eduardo Mena/Alvaro Cintas (TTU) def. Daniel Hernandez/Thais Minet (Lip.) 7-6(4)
Singles:
1. Alex Arovin (TTU) def. Rob Mitchell (Lip.) 6-2, 6-1
2. Alberto Esteban (TTU) def. Alex Pavel (Lip.) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
3. Alejandro Manzanares (Lip.) def. Eduardo Mena (TTU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
4. Philippe Courteau (Lip.) def. Alvaro Cintas (TTU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Daniel Hernandez (Lip.) def. Carlos Tejas (TTU) 6-0, 6-2
6. John Tougher (Lip.) def. Othon Lima (TTU) 6-3, 6-4
