By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team is set to return to the courts for the first time in 19 days with a Sunday match at Memphis in the purple and gold's final non-conference contest of the regular season. First serve from the Leftwich Tennis Center is slated for noon CT.
A look at Tennessee Tech
Having played just one match in the last 41 days, the Golden Eagles (1-8) will flock back into action searching to check the win column for the second time this season. TTU's lone nod was a 6-1 triumph over Austin Peay on Jan. 24 in one of five tilts played against teams from Tennessee this season.
Tech has also squared off with the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, ETSU and Sunday's match at Memphis will be the sixth opponent from the Volunteer State that the Golden Eagles will greet. Tech's tangle with ETSU was the purple and gold's last affair, a 6-1 defeat in Johnson City on Mar. 4.
TTU's non-conference ledger has featured three matches against nationally ranked opponents as well as four battles against "Power 4" foes. In addition to contests with UT and Vandy, the Golden Eagles have also locked up with No. 4 Wake Forest and No. 14 Mississippi State.
Darek Kuczynski leads the squad with three singles victories, while the combination of Alex Alvarez and Murilo Burckhardt possesses Tech's top tandem record behind a 3-3 doubles mark.
A look at Memphis
The Tigers (10-8) head into Sunday's battle having just been spotted on the courts in the club's American Athletic Conference opener on Friday in a 4-3 home win over Rice. After dropping the doubles point to the Owls, Memphis rallied during singles play with victories in four of the six matchups.
No. 98 Conor Gannon, Pablo Alemany, Harry Rock and Sam Reeve all carded wins during solo action.
Memphis has matched up with five teams ranked inside the nation's top 40 thanks to tangles with Wake Forest, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Harvard and Yale. The Tigers picked up a 4-2 victory over Yale on Mar. 2 for their lone win over a nationally-ranked foe.
Inside the series
Sunday's in-state showdown will mark the 19th meeting in the all-time series. Memphis leads the set 15-3 and has captured the last nine get-togethers in the series, which includes a 6-1 win on Mar. 23, 2024 in the last clash between the two clubs.
