By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team wrapped up its season-long, eight-match road swing to start the spring with a 7-0 loss at No. 20 Mississippi State in Tech's fourth matchup against a nationally ranked opponent this year.

Playing with a full squad for the first time this season, the Golden Eagles (0-8) were upended in all six singles bouts, which included a pair of affairs against nationally ranked solo foes. No. 107 Ewen Lumsden knocked off Evzen Holis, 6-4, 6-3, in the No. 2 slot, while No. 113 Benito Sanchez Martinez carded a 6-4, 7-5 win over Elias Grubert in the No. 3 position.

Freshmen Pol Masafret and Jaime Paquet managed a set-win in their defeats toward the back of the Tech singles lineup, with Masafret falling 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 to Gregor Ramskogler in the No. 4 get-together and Paquet dropping a 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 decision to Patrick Lazo in the No. 6 meeting. The Bulldogs (10-1) powered their way to straight-set victories in the other two solo positions behind a Petar Jovanovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 nod over Mika Berghaus in the top spot and a Michal Novansky 6-1, 6-0 win against Paulo Ramos Martin in the No. 5 battle.

Mississippi State the tone early by clinching the doubles point thanks to wins in both completed clashes. The nationally ranked tandem of No. 33 Carles Hernandez and Nemanja Malesevic collected a 6-0 triumph over Elias Grubert and Jaime Paquet in the No. 1 matchup and Michal Novansky and Benito Sanchez Martinez notched a 6-4 victory against Mika Berghaus and Pol Masafret in the No. 3 dual. The No. 2 tilt pitting Petar Jovanovic and Gregor Ramskogler against Evzen Holis and Paulo Ramos Martin did not finish with the score situated at 5-5.

The Golden Eagles will turn their attention to their first home match of the spring, as TTU will welcome Kennesaw State to Cookeville on Friday, Mar. 3. First serve at Tech Tennis Courts is scheduled for noon CT. Admission is free of charge.

Photo by Thomas Corhern