By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A tough test right out of the shoot will greet the Tennessee Tech tennis team, as the Golden Eagles are set to unwrap the 2023 spring season with a Top 10 tangle as part of a twin bill Saturday afternoon. Tech will take the short trip to Knoxville and square off in a doubleheader against No. 6 Tennessee, with the first affair scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT and the second clash slated to start at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Both matches will take place at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. Live stats will be available. Click here to view.
A look at Tennessee Tech
TTU's season-opening double dip with the Vols is part of a rigorous early-campaign stretch that will see the purple and gold play the first eight matches away from Cookeville, which includes four against "Power 5" competition.
The Golden Eagles march into the spring with title aspirations after once again claiming a conference crown last year. TTU took down top-seeded Belmont in the 2022 OVC Tournament championship match for the program's 11 tourney title and first since 2019. Tech advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last six full seasons, where they were ultimately knocked by the Volunteers in the first round in Knoxville.
The Golden Eagles return three All-OVC performers from a season ago, highlighted by welcoming back the reigning OVC Player of the Year in senior Elias Grubert. The Parana, Argentina product heads into his swan-song season after rolling out an undefeated singles conference campaign. Mika Berghaus joined Grubert on the All-OVC first team list and comes back for another go-around in purple and gold after collecting a team-leading nine solo nods last spring.
Evzen Holis rounds out Tech's trio of returning all-conference performers after reserving a spot on last season's second team behind a 3-1 league ledger.
A look at No. 6 Tennessee
Unlike the Golden Eagles, the Vols have already kicked off the 2023 spring campaign and welcome Tech to town with a perfect 2-0 mark. Tennessee took down Charlotte with a 6-1 triumph on Jan. 8, before securing a 7-0 victory over Texas Tech on Jan. 9.
No. 59 Shunsuke Mitsui claimed both of his singles battles at the top of the UT order and is one of three Volunteers to enter the season nationally ranked. No. 81 Emile Hudd is 2-0 on the young season with triumphs out of the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, while No. 86 Blaise Bicknell is also 2-0 thanks to wins out of the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Mistui and Hudd are coming off All-SEC second-team accolades in 2022.
After topping Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Tennessee went on to pick up victories over No. 21 Duke, No. 28 Florida State and No. 3 Baylor, before their run in the big dance was cut down with a 5-0 loss to No. 7 Virginia in the semifinals.
Inside the series
Saturday's season opener with mark the 18th and 19th meeting in the all-time series. UT has seized all 17 previous affairs, which have all taken place in Knoxville.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
