By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team was unable to make it two straight in the win column after falling 7-0 to Chattanooga Friday night in the Scenic City.
The Mocs (1-4) picked up their first win of the spring after capturing all six singles bouts, five of which were of the straight-set variety. Murilo Burckhardt managed to force a third set in his No. 3 solo battle with Ryan Mudre, but the Golden Eagle sophomore out of Telemaco Borba, Brazil dropped the meeting 7-5, 6-7, 10-5.
Two of the other singles matchups saw the second set go right down to the wire behind a pair of 7-6 decisions. Olivera Dao fell 6-4, 7-6 to Gabriel Castillo in the No. 2 position, while Darek Kuczynski was upended 6-1, 7-6 by Walker Valentine in the No. 6 clash.
The Golden Eagles (1-4) were tripped up in the other three solo showdowns. Alex Alvarez dropped his matchup 6-2, 6-1 by Jakub Jupa in the top get-together, while Lucas Bitzer was knocked off 6-2, 6-1 by Cortland Grove in the No. 4 spot and Davids Spaks fell 6-0, 6-3 to Matej Laibl in the No. 5 tangle.
Chattanooga started the affair off on a strong note after taking the doubles point behind victories in both completed battles. Jaxon Lamb and Ryan Mudre collected a 6-2 win over Alex Alvarez and Murilo Burckhardt in the No. 2 slot to go along with a Cortland Grove and Kristof Kincses 6-1 triumph in the No. 3 tilt.
Oliver Dao and Lucas Bitzer trailed 4-3 to Jakub Jupa and Gabriel Castillo at the time the top tangle was called.
The Golden Eagles will continue a busy weekend with a Sunday, Feb. 2 match at No. 9 Mississippi State. Tech's third contest of the season against a nationally ranked foe is set to start at 1 p.m. CT in Starkville.
Photo by Jim Dillon
