By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Smack dab in the middle of a season-long, four-match homestand, the Tennessee Tech tennis team will play host to New Mexico State Wednesday afternoon in the final non-conference match of the year for the Golden Eagles. First serve with the Aggies is slated for 1 p.m. CT and admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
A look at Tennessee Tech
After a challenging start to the season that featured six nationally ranked opponents in Tech's first eight matches, the Golden Eagles (3-9, 3-0 HL) have been rolling behind three wins in the club's last four contests. TTU's three victories have all been Horizon League lockups, with the purple and gold outscoring the opposition a combined 14-1 in the trio of conference affairs.
Darek Kuczynkski and Lucas Bitzer are both a perfect 3-0 in singles play during the three league tilts, while Alex Alvarez and Davids Spaks have both recorded 2-0 conference accounts. Kuczynski is the overall leader in singles wins this spring behind five solo victories.
As far as doubles play is concerned, the Golden Eagles enter Wednesday's clash having captured the tandem point in four consecutive contests. The TTU duo of Spaks and Bitzer has paved the way with a 5-2 mark this year, while Alvarez and Kuczynski have teamed up to go 4-3 this spring.
Following Tech's final non-conference tangle with New Mexico State, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on their final two Horizon League matches. Tech will host Tennessee State in the home finale on Friday before traveling to Belmont on Saturday.
A look at New Mexico State
Wednesday's clash in Cookeville will mark the regular-season finale for the Aggies (8-12), who enter Tech Tennis Courts having won two of their last three matches. NM State topped Oral Roberts on Mar. 29 and Lubbock Christian on Apr. 7 before falling 4-0 at in-state rival New Mexico in the club's last tussle on Apr. 13.
Tobias Wallin is the squad leader in singles victories with an 8-8 overall record. The freshman from Sweden has played exclusively in the top two slots in the Aggie order, posting a 3-7 ledger in the No. 1 position and a 5-1 mark in the No. 2 spot. Gustavo Campos and Patrick Lohmann each have six singles wins apiece.
Campos and Wallin have formed the top New Mexico State doubles tandem thanks to a team-leading 9-7 record this spring.
Inside the series
Wednesday's affair marks the sixth meeting in the all-time series. New Mexico State has captured all five previous tilts, but this will be the first time the action is not played in Las Cruces, N.M.
Photo by Jim Dillon
