By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time this spring, the Tennessee Tech tennis team will take center stage in Cookeville, as the Golden Eagles will make their 2023 home debut Tuesday afternoon against Radford. First serve with the Highlanders is slated for 1 p.m. CT and admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
A look at Tennessee Tech
Tuesday's tilt with Radford will mark Tech's second attempt at a home opener after the originally scheduled Cookeville debut on Mar. 3 against Kennesaw State was postponed due to inclement weather. Since the postponement, the Golden Eagles (0-9) took aim in their ninth straight road contest to kickoff the year and fell 6-1 at ETSU on Sunday.
Tech's battle with the Bucs saw the Golden Eagles forced to forfeit two singles matchups as well as a doubles clash with only four available TTU players in the mix. Elias Grubert picked up Tech's lone point with a solo triumph in the No. 2 spot for his team-leading second singles nod of the spring. Pol Masafret and Mika Berguas took home a doubles win to help push Masafret's tandem spring slate to above .500 at 2-1.
Tech's first home match comes on the heels of a rigorous road schedule that has featured four matches against nationally ranked opponents. The Golden Eagles played No. 6 Tennessee twice as well as No. 14 Wake Forest and No. 20 Mississippi State.
A look at Radford
The Highlanders (3-4) come to Cookeville after a lengthy hiatus from the courts that has not seen Radford compete since Feb. 18 in a 4-0 victory at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The Highlanders' last two affairs were postponed with scheduled matchups against Delaware on Feb. 19 and William & Mary on Mar. 3 not played.
Along with the win over Corpus Christi, Radford has also topped Abilene Christian with a 4-0 nod on Feb. 17 and UNC Greensboro with a 5-2 triumph on Feb. 7 to account for the club's three victories. Demis Taramonlis leads the squad with three singles victories, exclusively competing in the No. 1 position where he has a 3-3 overall mark. The 6-foot-2 senior out of Veria, Macedonia, Greece and Konstantinos Raptis have teamed up to comprise Radford's top doubles duo behind a 3-2 record, all out of the No. 1 position.
Inside the series
Tuesday's tussle will mark the eighth in the all-time series. Radford possesses a 5-2 edge in the series, which includes snapping a Tech two-match winning streak last season behind a 6-1 victory on Mar. 5 in Radford.
