By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A powerful punch at the bottom of the singles lineup provided the Tennessee Tech tennis team all they needed, as the Golden Eagles used victories in the final three solo spots to propel themselves to a 4-0 nod for their first win of the season in Saturday's Horizon League opener with Lindenwood.
Davids Spaks, Lucas Bitzer and Darek Kuczynski did their job at the bottom of the order with victories in the only three solo clashes that were completed to push Tech (1-8, 1-0 HL) to the winner's circle. Spaks knocked off Alonso De Prada 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 4 position, while Bitzer notched a 6-3, 6-0 nod over Fernando Martin Paz in the No. 5 bout and Kuczynski collected a 6-1 6-0 victory against Mattis Lamm in the No. 6 spot.
The wins were Spaks and Kuczynski's second solo triumphs this spring, while Bitzer picked up his first singles victory this season.
Alex Alvarez's tussle with Carlos Rodriguez Gonzalez in the top slot, Murilo Burckhardt's battle with Bernardo Henriques in the No. 2 matchup and Paulo Ramos Martin's tangle with Nathan Matsuguma in the No. 3 position did not finish. Alvarez and Ramos Martin each dropped the first set 7-6 at the time it was called, while Burckhardt split the first two sets before it went unfinished.
Tech captured the doubles point over the Lions (2-9, 0-3 HL) thanks to victories in both completed get-togethers. The TTU tandem of Bitzer and Spaks secured a 6-3 decision over Matsuguma and Henriques in the No. 1 meeting and the Golden Eagle duo of Alvarez and Kuczynski picked up a 7-5 triumph against Rodriguez Gonzalez and Lamm in the No. 3 tilt.
The No. 2 bout pitting Ramos Martin and Burckhardt against Martin Paz and De Parada did not finish with the score deadlocked at 6-6.
With their first Horizon League match in the win column, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on their first road conference contest behind an Apr. 6 meeting at Southern Indiana. First serve in Evansville is slated for 10 a.m. CT.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
