CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech tennis team cleared a major hurdle Saturday with a 5-2 road win over Austin Peay, clinching at least a share of the 2013 OVC Tennis regular season title. The Golden Eagles can claim the crown outright Sunday with a win at Murray State.

Tech's 16th consecutive OVC regular season victory snapped Austin Peay's 14-match winning streak and left coach Kenny Doyle's team with an 8-0 record this spring in conference clashes. Regardless of the outcome Sunday at Murray State, Tech will head to the OVC Championships in Paducah, Ky., as the number one seeded team.

The Golden Eagles got the drop on the Govs by winning the doubles point with victories at the top two spots for a 1-0 lead. Syrym Abdukhalikov and Alejandro Augusto cruised to an 8-2 victory on the No. 1 court over Sean Bailey and Jasmin Ademovic. On the No. 2 court, Artem Tarasov and Vasily Eremeev claimed an 8-4 victory over Dimitar Ristovski and Iago Seffrin. The No. 3 doubles contest went unfinished after Tech clinched the point.

All six singles contests were won in straight sets, with the Golde Eagles getting wins in four spots.

Abdukhalikov won his eighth consecutive match and improved to 8-0 in the OVC and 13-2 in dual matches when he took a 6-4, 6-2 decision from Bailey in the No. 1 position. Augusto also improved to 8-0 in OVC matches and 12-3 overall in dual matches as he earned a similar, 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 2 over Ademovic.

Eremeev won his battle at No. 4 singles, disposing of Aleksas Tverijonas, 6-3, 7-5, lifting his record in OVC matches to 8-0. The final Tech point came courtesy of Arturo Santa at No. 6, where he posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over Evan Borowski.

The Govs two points came at No. 3 and No. 5. Dimitar Ristovski downed Tarasov, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 3, while John Storie claimed a 7-6, 6-2 win over Alvaro Cintas at No. 5.

Tennessee Tech 5, Austin Peay 2
Apr 13, 2013 at Clarksville, Tenn.