By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Playing in its first match in 11 days, the Tennessee Tech tennis team was upended by the top-ranked team in NAIA, falling 4-3 at No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett Thursday afternoon. The Grizzlies (15-0) remain undefeated, capturing their fourth win against an NCAA DI foe this season.
Playing NAIA rules, the match started with singles play, featuring a barn-burner that saw both squads seize three wins apiece. Deadlocked at 3-3, Georgia Gwinnett would go on to take all three doubles battles to clinch the match.
In singles action, junior Eduardo Mena headlined the Golden Eagles showing as the Bultrago del Lozoya, Spain native handed Kevin Konfederak his first loss of the season, knocking off the NAIA's top-ranked player, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, out of the No. 1 spot. With the win, Mena moved to 8-2 in singles play this spring.
Senior Alberto Esteban and sophomore Guillermo Nicolas joined Mena by checking the win column as well, as Esteban edged Gilad Berman, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0 (10-8), out of the No. 3 slot, and Nicolas topped Connor Clements, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 1-0 (10-6), out of the No. 4 position.
Jordan Cox, the No. 2 ranked player in NAIA, took down Marcos Bernardes, 6-0, 6-4,in the No. 2 matchup, while Federico Duran and Rafael Coutinho were responsible for the other two GGC nods after Duran knocked off Marc Mila, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 5 spot, and Coutinho defeated Carlos Tajes, 3-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6) in the No. 6 tilt.
Georgia Gwinnett swept doubles play to push past Tech (5-5), as the combination of Kevin Konfederak and Gilad Berman collected an 8-4 victory over Guillermo Nicolas and Marcos Bernardes, setting the tone in the No. 1 battle. The tandem of Jordan Cox and Connor Clements followed suit with an 8-6 win over Alberto Esteban and Eduardo Mena in the No. 2 spot, and Rafael Coutinho and Federico Duran slipped past Marc Mila and Jorge Alfonzo, 9-7, in the No. 3 slot.
After spending its first 10 matches away from Cookeville, TTU will now set its sights on the home opener as the Golden Eagles welcome Eastern Illinois to Tech Tennis Courts on Sat. Mar. 18 for the OVC opener as well. The match is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon
