By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a nearly month-long layoff after its season opener, the Tennessee Tech tennis team is back in action with a doubleheader on the books at Alabama on Saturday. Tech's first clash with the Crimson Tide is slated for 1 p.m. CT and the second contest is set for 5 p.m.
A video stream and live scoring are available for both matches. Click here for the first match. Click here for the second match.
A look at Tennessee Tech
The Golden Eagles (0-1) will appear back on the courts for the first time since falling 7-0 at No. 13 Tennessee in the club's season opener on Jan. 16. Rafael Tosetto was responsible for the club's lone singles set captured behind a 6-2 second-set nod out of the No. 3 spot, while the TTU tandem of Evzen Holis and Jun Sasagawa registered Tech's only doubles victory with a 6-4 triumph out of the No. 2 position.
Despite not playing in a match in nearly a month, the Golden Eagles did make headlines with the Ohio Valley Conference's announcement of the league's predicted order of finish and preseason player top 10 at the end of January. Tech was selected to claim the conference crown following a vote among the OVC's six head coaches, while the Golden Eagles also played a league-best four players in the preseason top 10.
Evzen Holis took home the No. 4 spot in the rankings, one slot above Elias Grubert who earned a No. 5 ranking. Carlos Vicente was named to the No. 7 position and Rafael Tosetto secured a No. 9 ranking.
A look at Alabama
With back-to-back matches canceled against Memphis (Feb. 5) and Louisville (Feb. 6), the Tide (6-2) have not hit the courts since the end of January. The squad enters the twin bill vs. Tech on a two-match winning streak after claiming wins over Tulane and Chattanooga on Jan. 29.
Alabama returns its top singles competitor from 2020, with 6-foot-5 senior Patrick Kaukovalta back in the mix following a 12-3 mark during last spring's abbreviated campaign. Edson Ortiz also returns after appearing in a team-high 13 times out of the No. 1 singles position, posting a 7-6 mark out of that spot. Marcelo Sepulveda Garza is the leading returning doubles player with a 9-3 tandem ledger a season ago.
The Tide leads the all-time series 4-1 over the Golden Eagles. The last meeting between the two programs occurred in 1988.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
