By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The start of the 2022 spring season will take center stage for the Tennessee Tech tennis team, as the Golden Eagles head to No. 10 Wake Forest for a Sunday doubleheader to open the club's campaign. Tech's twin bill tangle with the Demon Deacons from the Wake Forest Tennis Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. will have start times of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. CT.
A live stream for both affairs is available. Click here to watch. Live stats for each match are also available. Click here to view.
A look at Tech
The Golden Eagles head into their spring slate fresh off a championship-draped campaign in 2021 that featured another OVC title. Behind an unblemished 5-0 league ledger, Tech claimed the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season crown for the eighth time in the last 10 full seasons.
After a 4-1 win in the OVC Tournament semifinals against Austin Peay, the Golden Eagles were upended 4-3 in the championship clash by Belmont in a tilt 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 slim loss that kept Tech from hoisting its fifth consecutive tourney title.
The loss to Belmont was the only non- "Power 5" loss the Golden Eagles suffered all spring and snapped a 10-match winning streak, the longest streak since 2012.
Individually, Tech posted a league-best six OVC postseason accolades. Carlos Vicente, Elias Grubert and Rafael Tosetto were all recognized as members of the All-OVC first team, while Evzen Holis and Andre Rodeia secured spots on the All-OVC second team. Kenny Doyle was also named the OVC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in 12 seasons at the helm of TTU tennis.
Tech marches into the spring opener on the heels of a strong 2021 fall that featured four different Golden Eagles with double-digit singles victories. Evzen Holis paved the way with a 13-4 solo mark, while Mika Berghaus secured a 10-3 record and Elias Grubert and Rafael Tosetto each notched 10-4 ledgers.
From a doubles perspective, Berghaus and Grubert head into the spring with a preseason No. 38 national ranking, the only OVC duo to be ranked in the nation's top 60.
A look at No. 10 Wake Forest
After landing in the nation's top 10 in the preseason polls, the Demon Deacons host Tech in Sunday's double dip after a banner 2021 spring that saw the club post a 29-7 overall record, going 11-1 in the ACC. A perennial powerhouse, Wake earned first and second round hosting rights in the NCAA Tournament, but were unable to escape the second round thanks to a 4-1 loss at the hands of Ohio State.
The Demon Deacons have four nationally ranked singles players, paced by Filippo Moroni's No. 75 spot. Jakob Schnaitter landed at No. 85, while Taha Baadi earned a No. 100 ranking and Robert Maciag claimed a No. 117 slot. Moroni went 10-4 during singles play last spring.
Inside the series
Wake Forest leads the all-time set 5-1. The Golden Eagles secured a win in the first-ever meeting in the series with a 5-4 nod on Mar. 20, 1971. All six previous matchups have occurred in Winston-Salem.
Photo by Thomas Corhern