By Dylan Vazzano, Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following an 11-day break from the courts, the Tennessee Tech tennis team is ready to dust off the rackets as the Golden Eagles travel to NAIA powerhouse Georgia Gwinnett for a Thursday afternoon battle with the Grizzlies. The match is slated to begin at 1 p.m. CT from the GGC Tennis Facility.
Tech (5-4) was last spotted in action Feb. 25 at Louisville, a 6-1 defeat to the Cards that snapped a two-match win streak after the Golden Eagles captured wins over Florida Gulf Coast (Feb. 18) and Charlotte (Feb. 19).
Overall, junior Eduardo Mena has paced the club with a 7-2 singles record, while fellow junior Marcos Bernardes has notched a team-leading 5-1 doubles mark. Both Golden Eagles have already seized OVC Male Tennis Athlete of the Week honors, with Bernardes earning the league's first award back on Feb. 15, and Mena receiving his accolade on Feb. 22.
Georgia Gwinnett (13-0) is the class of NAIA tennis as the Grizzlies are ranked No. 1 in the country with a perfect record this spring. GGC is coming off a dominating 8-1 win against Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday in a battle of top-ranked squads with the Sharks coming into the match as the No. 1 club in NCAA Division II.
Before hosting Tech Thursday afternoon, Georgia Gwinnett will welcome North Carolina A&T to Lawrenceville, the third meeting against an NCAA DI school this season for the Grizzlies. GGC topped Kennesaw State, 7-2, in its season-opener on Jan. 28, before knocking off The Citadel, 9-0, on Feb. 4.
Seven of the eight Grizzlies that have seen singles action this season have less than two losses, with junior Kevin Kondeferak leading the charge with a perfect 10-0 mark, all out of the No. 1 spot. The Buenos Aires, Argentina native is also the tops doubles performer with an unblemished 13-0 record, one of four Grizzlies with at least 10 doubles nods.
Georgia Gwinnett has seized both previous meetings in the all-time series with Tech, including last year's 5-2 victory in a match that saw Eduardo Mena and Marcos Bernardes register wins in singles play.
