By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
RADFORD, Va. – Despite playing shorthanded to the tune of just five healthy Golden Eagles, the Tennessee Tech tennis team gutted out a 4-3 victory over UNC Greensboro for TTU's first triumph of the spring.
The Golden Eagles (1-6) got off to a tough start after dropping the doubles point, thanks in part to the fact that Tech was unable to fill all three tandem spots. Mika Berghaus and Elias Grubert did secure a 6-3 win in the No. 2 spot over Nico Grewe and Harrison Gwynn, but with Andre Rodeia and Evzen Hollis falling 6-3 to Roger Rogowski and Alexander Zuckerman in the top slot and not having enough players to fill a third position, the Spartans captured the doubles point.
The Golden Eagles fell behind 2-0 with an automatic forfeit in the No. 6 position during singles play, but managed to register victories in four of the other five solo clashes to push the purple and gold into the win column. Three of the five matchups went three sets, including two that swung in favor of Tech. Mika Berghaus picked up a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 (7-5) nod over Alexander Zuckerman in the No. 2 slot, while Andre Rodeia took home a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Roger Rogowski in the No. 4 get-together.
The Spartans (3-7) only triumph during singles action came courtesy of a Nico Grewe 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 decision over Elias Grubert in the top spot to round out the trio of clashes that needed three sets.
Evzen Holis powered past Hugh Knapp behind a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory in the No. 3 meeting and Jun Sasagawa carded a 6-2, 6-1 win against David Flisberg in the No. 5 affair to help the Golden Eagles get to the finish line.
With its first nod in its back pocket, Tech will be right back at it on Saturday with a 10 a.m. CT contest at Radford.
Photo by Thomas Corhern