By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team flexed its muscles at home Thursday afternoon, rolling to a 6-1 victory over USC Upstate to kick off a busy stretch of three matches in three days. The win pushes the Golden Eagles (4-4) to a perfect 2-0 in Cookeville this season after Tech put together a dominating performance en route to a 6-1 win over Chattanooga in the home opener on Feb. 18.
Tech took care of business in doubles action, powering past the Spartans (3-9) in the No. 1 and No. 3 spots to capture the doubles point. Senior Alex Arovin and junior Alberto Esteban teamed up to knock off the duo of senior Ramon Simonetti and freshman Ankush Arora in the No. 1 spot, while the Tech combination of sophomore Jorge Alfonzo and freshman Guillermo soared their way to a 6-3 victory over junior Rajanvir Dharni and sophomore Matt Bennion in the No. 3 slot to push TTU to the doubles point.
Sophomores Eduardo Mena and Marcos Bernardes did not finish their doubles match in the No. 2 position.
Tech continued its dominance in singles play with victories in five of the six matches, highlighted by a Mena 6-3, 6-3 nod over Simonetti in the featured court. The sophomore's win pushed the OVC's preseason top rated player to an impressive 7-1 in singles action this spring.
Guillermo Nicolas improved to 6-2 in singles play after outlasting Ankush Arora in the No. 2 spot, earning a hard-fought 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 triumph. Alberto Esteban registered a 6-3, 6-2 decision in the No. 3 slot, and Marcos Bernardes outlasted senior Jamie Yates, 7-5, 2-6, (10-5), even with Yates entering the tilt with the most singles wins on USC Upstate with seven.
Sophomore Carlos Tajes rounded out the Tech lineup with a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the No. 6 position over Rajanvir Dharni.
The Golden Eagles will be right back at it on Friday, welcoming in Ball State to Tech Tennis Courts for a noon CT start.
