By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
ATLANTA, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team's latest bout against a nationally-ranked foe swung in favor of No. 65 Georgia State, as the Panthers rudely greeted the Golden Eagles to Atlanta with a 6-1 victory Sunday afternoon to wrap up another weekend on the courts.
Playing in its regular-season finale, GSU (15-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) secured wins in five-of-six singles battles to go along with seizing the doubles point en route to the club's fourth-straight victory and eighth in last nine matches overall. Tech's defeat to the Panthers marked the seventh clash against a nationally-ranked opponent in TTU's 15 tilts this year.
Jun Sasagawa was responsible for capturing the lone point for the Golden Eagles (4-11, 2-0 OVC) behind a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 win over Patrick Lazo in the No. 6 position. The tightly contested matchup was one of three that needed three sets, with Kevin Huynh securing a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 nod against Rafael Tosetto in the No. 4 spot and Harvey Maughan picking up a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision over Andre Rodeia in the No. 5 get-together.
The Panthers controlled the top of the order thanks to an Andrei Duarte 7-6, 6-2 victory over Elias Grubert in the top slot, a Roberts Grinvalds 7-5, 7-6 triumph against Mika Berghaus in the No. 2 meeting and a Vazha Shubladze 6-1, 6-1 win over Carlos Vicente in the No. 3 clash.
Georgia State kickstarted the contest with a win in doubles play after taking home victories in both completed bouts. Duarte and Grinvalds took down Grubert and Berghaus behind a 6-1 nod in the No. 1 spot, while Huynh and Maughan followed suit with a 6-1 decision over Holis and Rodeia in the No. 2 matchup.
The third tandem battle featuring Lazo and Diego Padilha against Tosetto and Vicente did not conclude with the score squared at 3-3.
Tech will turn its sights on a one-match week, as the Golden Eagles will travel to UAB for a Friday, Apr. 15 affair with the Blazers. First serve in Birmingham, Ala. will take place at noon CT.
Photo by Thomas Corhern