By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a near month-long hiatus from the courts, the Tennessee Tech tennis team will return to action with an in-state showdown Tuesday afternoon at East Tennessee State. First serve from the Dave Mullins Tennis Complex in Johnson City is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
A look at Tennessee Tech
Tech's tangle with the Bucs will mark the squad's first match since a 4-0 defeat against Penn on Feb. 9 in a neutral-site contest in Knoxville. In fact, the tilt with ETSU will represent TTU's only affair in a 42-day span, with the purple and gold next slated to next hit the courts on Mar. 23 in the non-conference finale at Memphis.
The Golden Eagles (1-7) have faced a rigorous non-conference schedule that has featured three matches against nationally ranked opponents as well as four contests against "Power 4" foes. The purple and gold have already locked up with No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 Mississippi State and Vanderbilt this spring.
Tuesday's tussle with ETSU will mark Tech's fifth in-state matchup. In addition to matches with Tennessee and Vanderbilt, the Golden Eagles have also locked up with Austin Peay and Chattanooga. TTU's lone victory this season was a 6-1 triumph over the Governors on Jan. 24.
Murilo Burckhardt and Darek Kuczynski lead the Golden Eagles with two singles victories apiece. Burckhardt has partnered up with Alex Alvarez to form Tech's top doubles tandem, with the pair combining for three doubles victories.
A look at East Tennessee State
The Buccaneers (4-4) host Tech on a three-match win streak thanks to home triumphs over Lipscomb, UNC Asheville and Belmont. ETSU knocked off the Bruins with a 4-2 nod in the club's last contest on Mar. 1. Martin Garcia-Ripoll, Francisco Lamas, Juan Andres Listo and Carlos Gonzalez all picked up solo wins to account for ETSU's four points.
Gonzalez and Pedro Cressoni are tied for the team's top singles accounts with identical 5-3 records. Cressoni and James Sim have combined for the best doubles duo behind a 3-1 mark, all out of the No. 3 position.
Inside the series
ETSU holds a 23-14 advantage in the all-time series. The Bucs have claimed nine straight nods, including a 6-1 victory in Johnson City on Mar. 5, 2023 in the last meeting in the set.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
