By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team is set to put a lid on the month of February, as the Golden Eagles scoot down to Georgia for a Saturday afternoon get-together with Kennesaw State in the purple and gold's last match of the month. First serve from Betty Siegel Courts is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT.
Live stats against the Owls will be available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
A spread-out schedule with a series of early postponements and cancellations to kick start the spring, the Golden Eagles (0-5) have played only three times since a season-opening doubleheader at No. 10 Wake Forest on Jan. 9. Tech dropped both tilts of a twin bill at No. 19 Mississippi State on Feb. 6, before TTU was upended 4-3 at Lipscomb on Feb. 11 in the club's first meeting against a non-nationally ranked foe.
Tech's loss to the Bisons did see the purple and gold capture the doubles point for the first time this year behind an Evzen Holis and Andre Rodeia 6-2 nod out of the top spot and a Mika Berghaus and Elias Grubert 6-2 triumph in the No. 2 position. Holis and Grubert followed up their doubles victories with a pair of singles wins for TTU's lone nods during solo action.
Grubert possesses the best singles ledger in the early stages of the spring with a 2-1 mark.
A look at Kennesaw State
Before greeting the Golden Eagles on Saturday, the Owls (4-2) will welcome Georgia State to Kennesaw Friday evening. After a 1-2 start, KSU has rattled off three consecutive wins thanks to road victories at Gardner-Webb and Mercer to go along with a home triumph over Chattanooga on Feb. 18.
The Owls have provided an early-season punch at the top of the singles order, with Matthew Terry posting a perfect 6-0 record out of the No. 1 slot and Raul Garcia earning a 4-2 mark out of the No. 2 position. Garcia and Harvey Conway are 2-0 in the No. 1 doubles spot, while Terrry and Hugo Salmeron are 2-0 in the No. 2 slot and Kevin Patel and Seru Tezuka are 3-0 in the No. 3 position.
Inside the series
Saturday's showdown will mark the sixth ever meeting in the all-time series. KSU holds a 3-2 edge, but the Golden Eagles have captured the last two affairs. Tech won 6-1 on Feb. 29, 2020 in Cookeville, before claiming a 4-3 nod on Mar. 7, 2021 in Kennesaw.
Photo by Thomas Corhern