TULSA, Okla. -- It was a learning experience and a chance to continue to improve his game for Tennessee Tech sophomore Alex Arovin, who faced a couple of top-notch opponents in his appearance at the ITA All-American Championships.

Ranked 94th nationally, Arovin's first task in the Qualifying round was 13th seeded Ralf Steinbach from Ohio State. The gritty Golden Eagle claimed a 7-6 win in the first set, winning the tie-breaker in two. The pair tangled all the way to a second tie-breaker in the second set, which Steinbach captured, 7-6 (4). The third set in the marathon match was also a knock-down battle before the Buckeye sophomore from Halle, Germany, an all-Big Ten second-team selection as a freshman, escaped with a 6-3 victory to clinch the match.

Arovin, a sophomore form Donetsk,Ukraine, then faced Max Schnur of Columbia, in the consolation round. Schnur, an all-Ivy League selection from Richmond, Va., downed Tech's top player in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

Arovin and the rest of coach Kenny Doyle's team will head to Chattanooga this weekend for the UTC Steve Baras Fall Classic.