By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team found success in its final event of the fall, as a slew of Golden Eagles captured both singles and doubles victories in the Wake Forest Invitational to seal the deal on the autumn slate.
A pair of Golden Eagles took home titles in their respective singles draws, with senior Carlos Vicente and freshman Jaime Paquet powering their way to stellar solo showings in Winton-Salem. Vicente topped Bluefield State's Luis Agullo Diaz Munio, 6-2, 4-1 (inj.) in the C Singles North Draw final to go along with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over UNC Greensboro's Andrew Black in the C Singles East Draw Round of 16. The Valencia, Spain product was upended 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) by Davidson's Juan Camilo Gongora in the quarterfinals of the C Singles East Draw.
As far as Paquet is concerned, the TTU rookie won twice in the C Singles South Draw final to capture the title. Paquet seized a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Alex Amacher out of Georgia Southern in the semifinals before taking down Jose Marquez from Bluefield State with a straight-set, 6-2, 6-2 nod. Paquet also fell in the C Singles East Draw Round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Bluefield State's Luis Agullo Diaz Munio in addition to a 6-0, 6-3 loss to Stetson's Alexandre Hillhouse in the C Singles West Draw Quarterfinals.
Mika Berghaus started his singles run with a three-set triumph against Alex Degabriele in the A1 Singles East Draw Round of 16 that saw the Tech junior pick up a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win to move to the quarterfinals, where Berghaus was ultimately tripped up with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Matisse Bobichon. Berghaus made it to the A1 Singles North Draw Final after receiving a bye in the semifinals, but was upended 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 by Reece Falck to conclude his stay in the Wake Forest Invitational.
Evzen Holis dropped a 6-4, 6-3 bout to VCU's Charles Bertimon A2 Singles East Draw Round of 16 in one his solo clashes. In his other get-together, Holis lost to Charlotte's Ivan Dreycopp behind a 7-5, 6-2 decision in the A2 Singles South Draw Final after first receiving a bye in the semifinals.
Pol Masafret was unable to generate a singles victory during his duration in Winston-Salem, first falling 6-1, 6-2 to Sebastian Miano in the B Singles East Draw Round of 16 before dropping a 6-3, 6-1 matchup to UNC Greensboro's Tymofy Khrystyuck in the B Singles West Quarterfinals. The TTU freshman out of Gijon, Spain was also tripped up by James Madison's Edson Sanchez with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat in the B Singles South Draw finals after moving through the semis behind Sven Thiergard out of Stetson withdrawing.
As far as doubles play is concerned, the Tech tandem of Mika Berghaus and Evzen Holis put together a strong performance behind a pair of victories. The Golden Eagle duo claimed a 6-4 nod against Davidson's Alejandro Solares and Uddayvir Singh in the A Doubles Northwest Final to go along with another 6-4 victory over Richard Trey Mallory and Alex Degabriele in the A Doubles East Draw Round of 16. The TTU team was then upended 6-4 by Charlotte's Coy Simon and Vasco Prata in the East Draw Quarterfinals. Berghaus and Holis also fell 6-2 to the host tandem of Matthew Thomson and Luciano Tacchi out of Wake Forest in the A Doubles North Draw Semifinals.
Tech's other doubles partnership of Pol Masafret and Carlos Vicente were upended 6-2 to Charlotte's Brett Gloria and Ivan Dreycopp in the B Doubles East Draw Quarterfinals in addition to a 6-4 loss to Stetson's Alexandre Hillhouse and Sami Ozzor in the B Doubles West Draw Semifinals.
With the fall schedule in the rearview mirror, the Golden Eagles will turn their attention to the spring slate, beginning January 2023. Tech is coming off an OVC Tournament championship in 2022 for the program's 11th total tourney title.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
