By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time in nearly two calendar years, the Tennessee Tech tennis team is back in action for a fall tournament, as the Golden Eagles will unwrap their autumn slate with a trip to the UNCG Fall Invitational in Greensboro, N.C.
All-day participation in the three-day affair is scheduled for Friday-Sunday and all seven Golden Eagles on the roster are set to take aim in the tourney.
Although Tech has not been spotted in a fall event in just about two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Golden Eagles were up to their usual tricks over the spring en route to another Ohio Valley Conference title. Following an 0-5 start to the year, with matchups exclusively against "Power 5" schools, Tech caught fire with a 10-match winning streak that included both an OVC regular-season championship and a trip to the OVC Tournament title match.
TTU's 10-match heater was the longest since 2012 and the club's regular-season crown marked the eighth in the last 10 full seasons for the program.
After a 4-1 win in the semifinals against Austin Peay, the Golden Eagles were downed 4-3 in the championship match by Belmont in a contest that saw Tech forced to play shorthanded due to COVID-19 protocols. The Golden Eagles had to forfeit both a singles and doubles matchup in the narrow loss that prevented the club from its fifth consecutive OVC Tournament title.
From an individual perspective, Tech enjoyed a banner spring behind a league-high six OVC postseason accolades. Five different Golden Eagles secured a spot on the All-OVC team, the second-most in program history, while TTU head coach Kenny Doyle was named the conference's Coach of the Year for the sixth time in 12 seasons at the helm of the purple and gold. Carlos Vicente, Elias Grubert and Rafael Tosetto were all recognized as members of the All-OVC first team, while Evzen Holis and Andre Rodeia took home spots on the All-OVC second team.
Mika Berghaus and Jun Sasagawa will join the five aforementioned Golden Eagles to participate over the weekend in Greensboro.
Grubert and Rodeia tied for the Tech lead with nine singles wins apiece last spring, while Holis and Sasagawa proved to be the most formidable doubles team, combining for a duo-best five victories, all out of the No. 1 spot in the regular season.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
