MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team recorded its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season on Saturday, topping host Morehead State, 5-2.
The No. 3 doubles pair of freshman Jorge Alfonzo and senior Artem Tarasov joined forces to top Morehead's Jose Zurro and Enrique Samuido, 8-0. Junior Alex Arovin and sophomore Alberto Esteban bested MSU's Ritchie Kruunenberg and Gabriel Ruiz in a gutsy 8-6 win in the No. 1 spot to help seal the doubles point. The No. 2 match ending in a non-decision as the point had already been decided.
The Golden Eagles (3-11, 1-1) looked dominant in singles play. Tech took a 3-0 lead following wins by freshman Eduardo Mena and Alfonzo.
Mena topped MSU's Ruiz in a 6-2, 6-3 match in the No. 3 spot. Alfonzo topped Samudio, 6-3, 7-5, in the No. 6 game.
Tech and Morehead State (2-9, 0-2) split the final four singles matches, winning the No. 2 and 5 games, and falling in the No. 1 and 4 matches.
Tech sealed the match with Esteban's win over Sabastian Penaloza in the No. 2 spot. Estaban helped Tech capture the win with a 6-0, 3-6, 7-5, win. The Golden Eagles also got a point from Carlos Tajes, who bested Zurro, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Arovin fell in the No. 1 match to Kruunenburg, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Morehead State also got the better hand in the No. 4 match, as Alvaro Cintas fell to Nick Mercer, 7-6. 3-6, 7-5.
The Golden Eagles return home to host Jacksonville State on Thursday at 1 p.m. CST.