By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team stubbed its toe in its Saturday afternoon battle at Belmont, as the Golden Eagles were downed 7-0 in the second of three straight weekend matches on the road.
The Bruins (17-5, 8-0 HL), who have now won 10 consecutive matches and remain as the only undefeated Horizon League South Division team, captured four singles showdowns in straight sets en route to the victory. Tomas Luis notched a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Evzen Holis in the No. 3 position, while Ian Cruz topped Pol Masafret 6-0, 7-5 in the No. 4 affair, Riccardo Trione knocked off Paulo Ramos Martin 6-2, 6-4 in the No. 5 meeting and Gabriel Sardo picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win against Jaime Paquet in the No. 6 get-together.
The Golden Eagles (4-13, 4-2 HL) gave Belmont all they could handle at the top of the singles lineup, with each of Tech's top two competitors claiming first-set triumphs, but the Bruins ultimately rallied in each position to collect narrow nods in both of them. Mika Berghaus captured a 7-5 first-set victory in the No. 1 slot against Marko Illic, but the Illic came back to take the next two behind a 7-6 (7-3) win in the second set and a 10-6 victory in the abbreviated third set.
A similar fate struck Elias Grubert, who secured a 6-3 opening-set decision over Alfred Wallen in the No. 2 tangle, but Wallen bounced back to seize the second set 6-0, before taking home the shortened third set 13-11.
Belmont registered victories in both completed doubles bouts to clinch the tandem point. Wallin and Jack Randall powered past Evzen Holis and Jaime Paquet 6-1 in the No. 2 clash and Tomas Luis and Ian Cruz earned a 6-4 nod against Pol Masafret and Mika Berghaus in the No. 3 meeting.
The top tussle pitting Riccardo Trione and Marko Illic against Elias Grubert and Paulo Ramos Martin did not finish.
The Golden Eagles will close out their busy weekend of three road matches in three straight days with a Sunday meeting at Tennessee State. First serve in Nashville is slated to begin at noon CT.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
