By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team collected a season-high three points and won three-of-four completed singles clashes, but ultimately the Golden Eagles tied a ribbon on a busy weekend with a 4-3 loss at Furman Sunday afternoon.

With only four available Tech players in the fold, the Golden Eagles (0-7) were forced to forfeit the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matchups, but controlled things at the top of the lineup to the tune of victories in each of the first three positions to secure more than one point in a match for the first time this spring. Mika Berghuas registered a 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-8) over Jerry Barton in the No. 1 slot, while Even Holis picked up a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 nod against Thomas Kennedy in the No. 2 battle and Elias Grubert soared his way to a straight-set, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Elijah Poritzky in the No. 3 matchup.

The victories for Berghaus, Holis and Grubert were their first solo wins of the season. Playing in his third career match as a Golden Eagle, Paulo Ramos Martin dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision in the No. 4 affair that helped aid the Paladins (4-5) to the victory.

As far as doubles play is concerned, with four Golden Eagles in the mix, Tech had to forfeit the No. 3 tilt. The top get-together saw the Furman tandem of Cole Burnam and Thomas Kennedy narrowly edge Mika Berghaus and Elias Grubert by a 7-5 count and the Paladins doubled up with a 6-3 triumph in the No. 2 position that saw Jerry Barton and Elijah Poritzky secure a 6-3 win against Evzen Holis and Paulo Ramos Martin.

With its three-match road weekend now in the rearview mirror, Tech will set it sights on its eighth straight away contest to begin the year with a test at No. 24 Mississippi State on Saturday, Feb. 25. First serve with the nationally ranked Bulldogs is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT.

Photo by Thomas Corhern