By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team can check off one of its major goals of 2016, ensuring itself at least a share of the regular season Ohio Valley Conference championship thanks to a 6-1 victory at Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles (11-6, 7-0) will look to take the conference championship outright at home next weekend, hosting Austin Peay Friday (Apr. 15) and Murray State Saturday. A win over either school would give TTU sole possession of the title.
Saturday's victory over the Panthers (3-14, 1-6) makes it four of the last five years that Tech (11-6, 7-0) has claimed the conference regular season title, while this year's version of the Golden Eagles remain perfect in the OVC, seizing its 15th-straight conference regular season win dating back to last year.
Saturday proved to be déjà vu for the 12 cast in purple and gold as TTU collected victories in all six singles matches for the second-straight day after accomplishing the sterling feat Friday at SIUE.
Coming off the heels of dropping the doubles point behind losses in the No. 1 and No. 3 spot, the Golden Eagles soared during singles play, needing only two sets in five of the six battles.
Sophomore Eduardo Mena moved to 16-1 in singles play this spring after powering past senior Robert Skolik, 6-4, 7-5, out of the No. 1 spot. Junior Alberto Esteban followed suit in the No. 2 slot with a 6-2, 6-2 nod over senior Ryan Anderson.
The sophomore trio of Marcos Bernardes, Jorge Alfonzo, and Carlos Tajes also only required two sets in their respective tilts, with Bernardes earning a 6-2, 6-3 victory against Rui Silva in the No. 4 position, Alfonzo nothing a 6-2, 6-3 win over Trent Reiman in the No. 5 spot, and Tajes registering a 6-3, 6-1 triumph against Ognjen Jevtic in the No. 6 slot.
Freshman Guillermo Nicolas remains undefeated in conference play with a stellar showing of resiliency that featured a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 nod over Grant Reiman in the No. 3 position.
TTU will look to run the conference table with a pair of home matches next weekend. The Golden Eagles will clash with Austin Peay Friday and Murray State Saturday. Both affairs start at 1 p.m. CT.
