By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team's first weekend as members of the Horizon League proved to be a smashing success, as the Golden Eagles claimed each of their first two conference clashes by a combined 13-1 margin. TTU's 2-0 league start featured a 7-0 win in its first ever meeting at Lindenwood and a 6-1 triumph at Eastern Illinois on Sunday.
Tennessee Tech 7 Lindenwood 0
The Golden Eagles (2-10, 2-0 Horizon League) checked the win column for the first time this spring and unwrapped their first ever Horizon League contest in dominating fashion with wins in all six solo showdowns as well as doubles victories in both completed get-togethers.
Solo action featured straight-set nods in five of six battles, including the top two positions behind a Mika Berghaus 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Carlos Gonzalez in No. 1 spot and an Elias Grubert 6-1, 6-0 win against Anton de la Puente in the No. 2 meeting. Pol Masafret continued Tech's straight-set success thanks to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Fernando Martin Paz in the No. 4 slot, while Paulo Ramos Martin registered a 6-0, 6-3 decision against Mattis Lamm in the No. 5 position and Jaime Paquet picked up a 7-5, 6-2 win in the No. 6 spot.
Evzen Holis needed three sets, but wrapped up TTU's undefeated singles run with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 nod over Alonso De Prada in the No. 3 get-together.
The Golden Eagles showcased similar strengths over the Lions (2-4, 0-1 HL) during doubles play behind victories in both finished affairs to seize the tandem point. Evzen Holis and Jaime Paquet notched a 6-2 victory over Alonso De Prada and Fernando Martin Paz in the No. 2 position and Mika Berghaus and Pol Masafret defeated Mattis Lamm and Pavle Drobnjakovic by a 6-4 margin in the No. 3 spot.
The top meeting pitting Elias Grubert and Paulo Ramos Martin against Carlos Gonzalez and Anton de la Puente did not finish.
Tennessee Tech 6 Eastern Illinois 1
The Golden Eagles put a lid on their perfect league-opening weekend thanks in large part to wins in five of six singles matchups against the Panthers (4-8, 0-2 HL). Mika Berghaus, Elias Grubert and Evzen Holis all provided a powerful punch at the top of TTU lineup, with Berghaus capturing a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Cameron Slabbert in the No. 1 slot, Grubert collecting a 6-3, 6-1 triumph against Pau Riera in the No. 2 tilt and Holis claiming a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Tyler Carlin in the No. 3 battle.
Paulo Ramos Martin and Jaime Paquet did their work at the bottom of the Tech lineup behind a Ramos Martin 6-4, 6-2 nod over Thomas Wallace in the No. 5 get-together and Paquet picking up a 6-1, 6-2 win against William Hays in the No. 6 position. Alex Dinkov secured EIU's lone point thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Pol Masafret in the No. 4 affair.
The Golden Eagles soared their way to an early lead after capturing the doubles point with victories in both completed clashes. Grubert and Ramos Martin registered a 6-2 takedown of Wallace and Slabbert in the top spot and Berghaus and Masafret powered their way to a 6-1 triumph against Carlin and Max Pilipovic-Kljajic in the No. 3 matchup.
Holis and Paquet's tangle with Dinkov and Riera out of the No. 2 position did not finish.
Upcoming
TTU will prepare for its first home conference matches of the season with back-to-back weekend meetings upcoming. The Golden Eagles will host Tennessee State on Saturday, Mar. 25 and Belmont on Sunday, Mar. 26, with both Horizon League contests set to begin at 2 p.m. CT. Admission to each affair at Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
