By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team's Horizon League opener swung Tennessee State's direction as the Tigers came to Cookeville and departed with a 4-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Tech Tennis Courts.
The Golden Eagles (1-10, 0-1 Horizon League) found success in the middle of the singles lineup thanks to wins in the No. 3 and No. 4 slots to account for Tech's pair of points. Murilo Burckhardt knocked off James Adler Germinal 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the No. 3 position, while Lucas Bitzer registered a three-set nod after Nicholas Adamec retired in the final set in the No. 4 clash.
The Tigers (5-9, 2-0 Horizon League), who won their third-straight match, took care of business at the top behind straight-set triumphs in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots. Jonasz Dziopak collected a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alex Alvarez in the No. 1 meeting, while Taj Hibbert picked up a 6-0, 7-5 win against Oliver Dao in the No. 2 tilt.
TSU rounded out its solo triumphs with a Christopher Bogelin 6-4, 6-1 nod against Elia Lauper in the No. 6 battle. The No. 5 matchup pitting Darek Kuczynski against Nicholas Adamec did not finish with Kuczynski leading 5-4 in the third set.
The Tigers secured the doubles point thanks to wins in two of the three tandem tangles. Taj Hibbert and James Adler Germinal notched a 6-4 decision against Alex Alvarez and Murilo Burckhardt in the No. 2 get-together to go along with a Jonasz Dziopak and Alexander Adamec 6-4 victory over Oliver Dao and Lukas Krause in the No. 3 slot.
Tech managed a win in the No. 1 position thanks to a Lucas Bitzer and Elia Lauper 6-2 nod against Tatenda Mutetwa and Rohan Loubser.
The Golden Eagles will now set their sights on a second-consecutive home affair with a Saturday, Apr. 5 meeting against Southern Indiana on the books. First serve from Tech Tennis Courts is slated for 1 p.m. CT and admission is free of charge.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
