Click here to view complete 2016-17 schedule
By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Equipped with an avalanche of momentum thanks to a current run as good as any in program history, the Tennessee Tech tennis team is nearly ready to get the ball rolling on the start of another spring campaign as the Golden Eagles announced their 2017 schedule. In-state rivalries, trips all across the southeast and a quartet of home matches help highlight the upcoming slate, scheduled to kick off with a Saturday affair at Lipscomb, the squad's only tilt in January.
Tech eyes the upcoming 17-match regular season schedule having captured four of the last five regular season OVC championships, punctuated by last year's perfect, 9-0, conference record that saw the Golden Eagles take home the OVC Tournament title for the club's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006. TTU's 15 wins in the spring were the most since 2008.
"The team is excited for the start of the regular season and I think we have a chance to have a great spring," junior Eduardo Mena, the reigning OVC Player of the Year, claimed after examining the upcoming schedule. "I would say our biggest challenge on the schedule is the non-conference matches. Last year we had the chance to win some matches against some nationally ranked schools, and this season I think we have the chance to upset a few teams. It's also important to complete a good non-conference season in order to be ready for our OVC schedule, with our ultimate goal of winning the OVC Tournament and making some noise in the NCAA Tournament."
Tech's initial meeting with Lipscomb is one of six against schools from Tennessee as the Golden Eagles are set to tangle with Chattanooga (Feb. 3), UT (Feb. 5), Austin Peay (Mar. 24), Tennessee State (Apr. 14) and Belmont (Apr. 15). TTU's meetings with Chattanooga, UT and Austin Peay are all on the road, a staple in this year's slate that will feature 13 matches away from Cookeville.
In addition to its battles in the Volunteer State, the Golden Eagles will take aim in North Carolina with a matchup at UNC Asheville on Feb. 11, Kentucky with a Feb. 25 affair at Louisville and an Apr. 1 tilt at Eastern Kentucky, Georgia to take on NAIA powerhouse Georgia Gwinnett on Mar. 9 and four matches in Florida. Tech will be in the Sunshine State Feb. 17-19 with three-straight days of matches at UCF, Florida Gulf Coast and Charlotte (played in Fort Myers), before returning to play North Florida on Mar. 20 in a matchup against an NCAA Tournament team from a year ago.
"The upcoming schedule looks challenging because we are not only playing a number of good teams, but there are also some schools that we have not played in a while like UCF, North Florida and Charlotte," senior Alberto Esteban, an All-OVC first team recipient last year, said in regards to the spring slate. "I'm sure these non-conference matches, especially against some of the schools like Tennessee and Louisville, will help get us ready for conference play. With this being my last semester, I'm pretty excited about every match and I know our team has high expectations heading into the season."
TTU's OVC title defense will begin with the home opener against Eastern Illinois on Mar. 18. The Golden Eagles will close out the regular season with three-straight OVC home matches, clashing with Jacksonville State Apr. 6, TSU Apr. 14 and Belmont Apr. 15. The Golden Eagles are 31-3 at home over the last eight years.
The conference tournament is scheduled for Apr. 21-23 in Nashville.
Admission to all home matches at Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo by Jim Dillon
