ATLANTA, Ga. -- Tennessee Tech proved plenty strong at the top of the lineup, but winning the three top singles points couldn't push the Golden Eagles quite far enough in a 4-3 loss Tuesday to Georgia State.
Playing the singles matches first because of a threat of rain, the Golden Eagles (2-9) and Panthers (6-9) were locked up 3-3 after Tech took the top three and Georgia State claimed the bottom three positions. That forced the teams to play doubles, and the host team quickly claimed a pair of wins and the point to claim the match.
Each time GSU plut a poitn on the scoreboard, the Golden Eagles answered to tie it.
Felipe Jaworski took a 6-0, 6-4 decision from freshman Jorge Alfonzo at No. 6 for the first point of the day, before Eduardo Mena (photo above), another Golden Eagle freshman, swept to a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 3 over Andrei Andrukhou for a 1-1 match score.
At No. 5, the point went to Sofiane Chevallier with a 6-2, 6-5 win over Tech's Carlos Tajes for a 2-1 GSU lead. Once again, the Golden Eagles ties things when junior Alex Arovin outlasted Jannis Koeke, ranked 111th nationally, for a 2-2 match. After dropped a 6-1 first set, Arovin fought back to win the second 7-6 and claimed the point with a decisive 6-2 win in the third.
The final GSU singles point went to Sebastian Acuna in a three-set marathon with Alvaro Cintas at No. 4. Cintas dropped the first set, 6-2, and came back to win the second, 6-3. The third wen to Acuna, 6-4 for a 3-2 GSU match lead.
Sophomore Alberto Esteban gave Tech a chance when he earned a three-set win at No. 2 singles. Esteban took a 6-4 win in the opening set over Zack Kennedy. The Panther took the second, 6-4, before Esteban prevailed, 6-4, in the third for a 3-3 tie.
Moving to doubles to decide the day's outcome, GSU put a 6-2 win on the board at No. 3 as Koeke and Jannis topped Tajes and Alfozo. The final point was won at No. 2 as Acune and Andrukhou posted a 6-2 win over Cintas and Mena. The No. 1 match went unfinished once the day was decided.
The Golden Eagles will get down to Ohio Valley Conference business beginning this weekend with a pair of road matches. Tech visits Eastern Kentucky Friday for a 1 p.m. contest, then pays a visit to Morehead State Saturday at noon.
April 18, 2015
Golden Eagles fall to APSU, 4-0, in OVCtournament semifinals
April 17, 2015
Tech tennis heads to Ohio Valley Conference Championships
April 14, 2015
Arovin earns adidas® OVC Tennis Athlete of the Week honor
April 11, 2015
Tech tops APSU, earns share of 2015 regular season crown
April 10, 2015
Tech tops Murray State, heads to APSU for chance at title
April 7, 2015
Tech tops visiting JSU Gamecocks, 4-0
April 2, 2015
Tech to host SIUE, Jacksonville State over the weekend
April 1, 2015
Golden Eagles top EIU in midweek match
April 1, 2015
Tech hosts EIU in mid-week match-up
March 28, 2015
Tech wraps up weekend with dominant win over TSU
March 27, 2015
Tech tops Belmont in marathon match
March 24, 2015
Golden Eagles wings clipped by nationally-ranked Cardinals
March 22, 2015
Tech Tennis heads to Louisville for mid-week match
March 14, 2015
Tech tops Morehead State in Saturday afternoon action
March 13, 2015
Tech falls in Ohio Valley Conference Opener
March 12, 2015
Golden Eagles open up OVC play at EKU, Morehead State
March 9, 2015
Golden Eagles fall to Winthrop, 4-3
March 8, 2015
Tech heads to Atlanta for Monday match with Winthrop
February 28, 2015
Arovin and Esteban prevail, but Golden Eagles fall at Georgioa Tech
February 27, 2015
ETSU blanks Golden Eagles 7-0 to open three-match weekend
February 18, 2015
Weekend tournament cancelled for Golden Eagle tennis team
February 15, 2015
Tech falls vs. UNC Asheville in Sunday matinee
February 14, 2015
Golden Eagles fall twice at No. 20 Tennessee Saturday
February 10, 2015
Golden Eagles face Tennessee twice, UNC Asheville on busy weekend
February 8, 2015
Golden Eagles post season's first win, top Chattanooga Mocs, 5-2
February 6, 2015
Golden Eagles head to instate foe UTC
February 1, 2015
Golden Eagles topped by Blue Raiders in Sunday matinee match
January 31, 2015
Golden Eagle tennis team drops season opener to Lipscomb, 4-3
December 10, 2014
Six home matches featured in 2015 Tennessee Tech tennis schedule
November 10, 2014
Tech tennis wrapped up fall season at the Commodore Scramble
November 6, 2014
Golden Eagles close out the fall season with Commodore Scramble
October 13, 2014
Tennis wraps up play at the WFU Fall Invite
October 2, 2014
Golden Eagles looking for success at Chattanooga tournament
September 27, 2014
TULSA TIME: Mena, Esteban playing in ITA Pre-Qualifying rounds
September 21, 2014
Newcomers Mena, Tejas capture flight championships at Purdue
September 19, 2014
Golden Eagles part of large field at Purdue Invitational this weekend
September 14, 2014
Golden Eagles tennis takes part in first tournament of the fall
September 11, 2014
Four Golden Eagles to represent TTU at ITA All-American Championships
September 10, 2014
Tennessee Tech tennis boasts first ranked player since '09-'10
August 22, 2014
Tennessee Tech tennis adds experienced assistant coach