By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team moved one step closer to another perfect conference campaign and an Ohio Valley Conference championship, routing Tennessee State, 7-0, Friday afternoon at Tech Tennis Courts. With Belmont coming to Cookeville Saturday for the regular season finale, the Golden Eagles are a win away from the program's fourth undefeated OVC slate in the last six years, having already clinched at least a share of the regular season title, the club's fifth in the last six seasons.
Tech (10-6, 5-0) has now won 22-straight conference contests, and has outscored its opponents in OVC play an eye-popping 34-1 in five matches.
TTU's blanking of the Tigers (7-7, 1-3) showcased another perfect afternoon for the purple and gold, one that saw the Golden Eagles capture every single set in each of their matchups. In doubles play, Tech made quick work of its in-state counterparts as the combination of Eduardo Mena and Marcos Bernardes rolled past Matthew Brown and Grant Maddox, 6-1, in the No. 1 spot, while the duo of Jorge Alfonzo and Marc Mila shutout Shashank Nautiyal and Jorge Rodriguez, 6-0, in the No. 3 position.
The No. 2 match pitting Alberto Esteban and Guillermo Nicolas against Kyle Burton and Tom Vanden Broeck-Parant did not finish with Tech leading 4-2.
In singles play, only two sets featured at least four Tiger points, both coming in a Guillermo Nicolas 6-4, 6-4 win over Grant Maddox in the No. 4 slot. Nicolas has now captured six-straight singles nods, and is a victory away from his second consecutive perfect OVC slate since joining the collegiate ranks.
Jorge Alfonzo carded a shutout win over Larry Sloan in the No. 5 spot, taking both sets 6-0 to move to 9-4 this spring. No. 55 Eduardo Mena ran his win-streak to double digits with an overwhelming 6-1, 6-1 decision over Matthew Brown in the No. 1 battle for the 6-foot junior's 10th consecutive victory. Overall, Mena is 14-2 this season.
Freshman Marc Mila impressed out of the No. 6 spot with a 6-1, 6-2 nod against fellow freshman Kato Richardson, while Marcos Bernardes and Alberto Esteban put together strong performances as well. Bernardes won, 6-2, 6-2, against Jorge Rodriquez in the No. 2 position, and Esteban rolled to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Tom Vanden Broeck-Parant in the No. 3 slot.
Saturday's match with the Bruins is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT. Admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo by Tony Marable