By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team kicked off its 2016 home slate with a bang, christening its Cookeville campaign with a dominating 6-1 performance over Chattanooga in the club's home opener at Tech Tennis Courts Thursday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (2-2) took care of business in doubles action, notching wins in the top two spots to clinch the doubles point. Senior Alex Arovin and junior Alberto Esteban powered past senior John Peacey and junior Lucas Plesky in the No. 1 spot, before sophomore Eduardo Mena and freshman Guillermo Nicolas secured the doubles point with a 6-4 nod over senior Luke Saunders and junior Nic Wilson in the No. 2 position.
Tech mirrored a similar showing in singles play, capturing five of six singles matches over the Mocs (3-4) to easily take the match. Mena set the tone with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Peacey in the top spot, pushing the OVC's Preseason No. 1 ranked player singles mark to a perfect 4-0 this spring.
After an Alberto Esteban 6-2, 6-4 victory in the No. 3 spot, sophomore Carlos Tajes officially clinched the match behind a 6-4, 6-3 win in the No. 6 position for the Murcia, Spain native's first singles nod of 2016.
Following a Jorge Alfonzo 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 nod in the No. 5 spot, Guillermo Nicolas tied a ribbon on Tech's triumph with a grueling 7-5, 7-5 victory over Luke Saunders in the No. 4 position to push the 5-foot-9 rookie's singles record to 3-1 in the early stages of the season.
The Golden Eagles will have a lengthy layoff before their next tilt, a February 27 meeting at the University of Tennessee. The match is slated to begin at 4 p.m. CT.
