NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The day featured a super start for the Tennessee Tech tennis team, which jumped to a 1-0 lead by capturing the doubles point, but the Golden Eagles (0-2) couldn't sustain that momentum through singles play and dropped a 5-2 non-conference match to Middle Tennessee State (4-1) Sunday afternoon at the Nashboro Village Athletic Center.
Alex Arovin and Alberto Esteban cruised to a 6-2 win over Yannick Born and Victor Hoang at the No. 1 doubles slot. At No. 3, Othon Lima and Gagan Jain fell to the Blue Raider duo of Dima Zyhmantovich and Robin Riethmueller, 6-3.
The doubles point was decided in the No. 2 match, where Tech wrapped up the point when Eduardo Mena and Alvaro Cintas earned a 6-3 victory over Ben Davis and Ettmore Zito.
Despite dropping a point at No. 4 singles when Hoang claimed a 6-2, 6-1 win over Cintas, the Golden Eagles reclaimed the match lead when Mena took down Zyhmantovic, 6-2, 6-4, pushing Tech into a 2-1 lead.
From there, however, MTSU recorded four straight wins for the match victory. At the No. 2 singles spot, Zito topped Esteban, 6-3, 6-2, to tie things at 2-2.
In the premier match of the afternoon at No. 1 singles. Arovin and Davis locked up in a classic battle, grinding through several points. Davis took the first set, 6-4, before Arovin owned a 3-2 lead in the second. The close fight continued, before Davis emerged with a 6-3 victory to earn the point.
Riethmueller delivered the winning blow, winning 6-0, 6-1 over Lima at No. 6 to capture the match. Issa followed with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tejas at No. 5 singles to finish the scoring.
Tech plays at Chattanooga on Sunday (Feb. 8) in its next match.
Tennessee Tech vs Middle Tennessee
Feb 1, 2015 at Nashboro Village Athletic Center
Middle Tennessee 5, Tennessee Tech 2
Singles competition
1. Ben Davis (MTMTEN) def. AROVIN, Alex (TTU) 6-4, 6-3
2. Ettore Zito (MTMTEN) def. ESTEBAN, Alberto (TTU) 6-3, 6-2
3. MENA, Eduardo (TTU) def. Dima Zyhmantovich (MTMTEN) 6-2, 6-4
4. Victor Hoang (MTMTEN) def. CINTAS, Alvaro (TTU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Gian Issa (MTMTEN) def. TEJAS, Carlos (TTU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Robin Riethmueller (MTMTEN) def. LIMA, Othan (TTU) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. AROVIN, Alex/ESTEBAN, Alberto (TTU) def. Yannick Born/Victor Hoang (MTMTEN) 6-2
2. MENA, Eduardo/CINTAS, Alvaro (TTU) def. Ben Davis/Ettore Zito (MTMTEN) 6-3
3. Dima Zyhmantovich/Robin Riethmueller (MTMTEN) def. LIMA, Othan/JAIN, Gagan (TTU) 6-3
Match Notes:
Tennessee Tech 0-2
Middle Tennessee 4-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,3,2,1,6,5)
Official: Ted Mason T-3:03 A-32
