By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team's 2024 season opener swung No. 6 UT's direction, as the Vols secured a 7-0 victory over the Golden Eagles in Saturday afternoon's bout from inside the Goodfriend Tennis Center.

Five of the six singles clashes were Tennessee straight-set victories over Tech (0-1), with the lone exception coming out of the No. 5 spot. TTU freshman Lucas Bitzer picked up a first-set 7-5 triumph in his tug of war with Angel Diaz, but Diaz would go on to bounce back by taking the second set 6-1 and an abbreviated third set 10-6.

Bitzer was one of four Golden Eagle freshman making their collegiate dual debut, with Alex Alvarez, Murilo Burckhardt and David Spaks joining Bitzer in the rookie department. Alvarez was upended by No. 20 Johannus Monday by a 6-1, 6-2 margin in the No. 1 slot, while Burckhardt fell 6-2, 6-3 to No. 33 Shunsuke Mitsui in the No. 2 position and Spaks was downed by Filip Apltauer by a 6-1, 6-2 decision in the No. 4 battle.

Tech's lone returner Paulo Ramos Martin was tripped up 6-2, 6-2 by Chris Li in the No. 3 get-together, while junior transfer Darek Kuczynski rounded out Tech's solo attack with a 6-0, 6-1 defeat to James Newton in the No. 6 meeting.

The Vols (3-0) opened the match by capturing the doubles point thanks to victories in both completed clashes. Filip Pieczonka and Angel Diaz took down Alex Alvarez and Lucas Bitzer 6-1 in the No. 2 position, and Chris Li and James Newton registered a 6-4 triumph against Murilo Burckhardt and Darek Kuczynski in the No. 3 spot.

The top matchup pitting Paulo Ramos Martin and Davids Spaks against Johannus Monday and Shunsuke Mitsui did not finish.

With one matchup against an SEC foe in the books, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on another school from the Southeastern Conference in Tech's next contest on Sunday, Jan. 21. TTU will make the quick trip to Nashville to square off with Vanderbilt at 11:30 a.m. CT.  

Photo by Thomas Corhern