By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team opened up its Ohio Valley Conference slate in grand fashion Saturday afternoon, toppling Eastern Illinois 7-0 in the first of six conference clashes.
The Golden Eagles (3-10, 1-0), who have now won 24-straight regular season OVC contests, left nothing to chance in the shutout win, dropping just one set in singles action. No. 54 Eduardo Mena and Jorge Alfonzo put together unblemished showings, claiming their respective battles, 6-0, 6-0. Mena took down Freddie O'Brien in the top spot, while Alfonzo's nod came over Kaisei Kuroki in the No. 4 position.
Wenceslao Albin, Gonzalo Garcia and Arthur Justo all seized straight-set wins as well in the blanking over the Panthers (4-13, 0-2). Albin registered a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Logan Charbonnea out of the No. 2 slot, while Garcia secured a 6-2, 6-2 nod against Gage Kingsmith out of the No. 5 spot and Justo collected a 6-2, 6-1 win over Braden Davis in the No. 6 position.
Marc Mila rounded out Tech's triumphant day with a three-set victory in the No. 3 matchup. The Barcelona, Spain native seized a 6-1, 6-7, 1-0 (5-0) win over Trent Reiman.
The Golden Eagles set the tilt's tone from the onset, claiming the doubles point with nods in the No. 1 and No. 3 matchups. Arthur Justo and Marc Mila powered past Freddie O'Brien and Trent Reiman, 6-2, in the top spot and Eduardo Mena and Gonzalo Garcia were victorious with a 6-2 win over Kaisei Kuroki and Logan Charbonneau in the No. 3 position.
Tech will set its sights on the home opener Friday, Mar. 23, welcoming Austin Peay to Cookeville for a noon CT start with the Governors.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information