By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team secured its first Horizon League win of the season behind a 4-0 nod at Eastern Illinois in Tech's final road match of the year.
The Golden Eagles (2-11, 1-2 HL) started strong after capturing the doubles point for the first time in conference play thanks to wins out of the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. The Tech tandem of Alex Alvarez and Murilo Burckhardt registered a 7-5 win over Pieke Bouman and Michael Schut in the No. 2 meeting, while Oliver Dao and Darek Kuczynski knocked off Fabian Planchard and William Hays, 6-4, in the No. 3 gathering.
The top tussle featuring Lucas Bitzer and Elia Lauper against Tyler Carlin and Zach White did not finish with the score knotted at 5-5.
The Golden Eagles continued their success over the Panthers (6-23, 0-4 HL) in singles action to the tune of wins in all three completed clashes. Oliver Dao and Darek Kuczynski both made it a 2-0 afternoon afer Dao seized a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Zach White in the No. 3 slot and Kuczynski collected a 6-4, 6-2 nod against Tyler Carlin in the No. 4 get-together.
Ricard Garavi Vepez rounded out Tech's trio of triumphs thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ludolph Wiggett in the No. 5 spot.
The top two solo battles, as well as the No. 6 matchup did not finish. Alex Alvarez took the first set, 6-4, against Pieke Bouman and led 5-4 in the second at the time No. 1 was called, while Murilo Burckhardt dropped the first set, 6-4, and trailed 5-3 in the second to Alex Aldaz at the time No. 2 concluded.
Elia Lauper and Gui Cauvilla both exchanged 6-2 set wins in the No. 6 affair with Cauvilla taking the first set and Lauper securing the second.
The Golden Eagles will now set their sights on the final match of the regular season as the purple and gold will renew its rivalry with Belmont on Saturday, Apr. 19 in Cookeville. First serve from Tech Tennis Courts is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and admission is free of charge.
