By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team will unwrap its Ohio Valley Conference regular season slate Saturday afternoon, traveling to Eastern Illinois for the first of six conference clashes. First serve from Charleston, Ill. is scheduled for noon CT.
The Golden Eagles (2-10) have soared throughout OVC action in recent recollection, claiming five of the last six conference regular season crowns. Tech will enter Saturday's matchup with the Panthers (4-11) having won 23-straight regular season matches against OVC competition.
No. 54 Eduardo Mena heads into the conference-opener riding a three-match winning streak, all out of the top spot in the Tech lineup. The two-time OVC Player of the Year has posted back-to-back undefeated conference campaigns and is 21-1 all-time in OVC play. Mena is 6-4 in singles action this spring.
Newcomers Wenceslao Albin and Gonzalo Garcia are second on the Golden Eagles with five singles wins apiece.
Before hosting the Golden Eagles, the Panthers will welcome Jacksonville State to Charleston for the club's OVC opener. EIU is coming off a 5-4 victory at Rose-Hulman on Mar. 10.
Sophomore Freddie O'Brien paces the Panthers with an 8-5 singles mark, the only player on the club with a winning record this spring.
Tech has captured 18-of-19 meetings in the all-time series with EIU.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information