By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team ended its near month-long layoff with a 6-1 loss at UNC Asheville to kick off the beginning of a busy weekend of three matches in three days.

Forced to play shorthanded with only four available Golden Eagles, Tech (0-5) had to forfeit a pair of singles clashes as well as a doubles meeting that ultimately led to TTU dropping the doubles point. The Bulldog tandem of Sam Nicholson and Harry Thursfield topped Evzen Holis and Paulo Ramos Martin 6-4 in the only completed duo dual out of the No. 2 position to seize the point after the No. 3 matchup did not occur. The top battle pitting Rafa Serra and Jon Brann Reid against Mika Berghaus and Elias Grubert did not finish.

Playing in his first contest as a Golden Eagle, Paulo Ramos Martin bounced back during singles action with his first solo victory in purple and gold, downing Chester Wickwire in the No. 4 affair for Tech's lone point on the day.

UNC Asheville (4-2) claimed the other three singles battles behind a Jon Brann Reid 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (4-0) victory over Mika Berghaus in the No. 1 spot, a Sam Nicholson 6-3, 6-1 triumph against Elias Grubert in the No. 2 get-together and a Harry Thursfield 6-4, 6-4 nod over Evzen Holis in the No. 3 meeting.

The Golden Eagles will continue its jam-packed weekend with a Saturday afternoon matchup at Presbyterian. First serve in Clinton, South Carolina is slated for 1 p.m. CT.

Photo by Thomas Corhern