By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Athletics Media Relations
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech tennis team ended its two-day duration in Richmond with a Friday split in matches against Furman and Chattanooga. After topping the host Eastern Kentucky on Thursday, the Golden Eagles ran their win streak to three in a row with a morning 4-2 nod over Furman before Tech dropped its next decision with a 4-3 loss to the Mocs.
Freshman Diego Munoz tallied two singles wins on the day, while Davids Spaks, Murilo Burkhardt and Alex Alvarez all notched one solo triumph. That quartet of Golden Eagles also tabbed a doubles triumph on Friday, joining Oliver Dao and Linus Rohlin who checked the doubles win column in the morning match with the Paladins.
"I couldn't be more happy with how these two days went for us," Tech head coach Mark Klysner said. "We had a great win this morning over a future conference opponent, and then this afternoon we almost pulled it off with a little younger and less experienced lineup. Shoutout to all three of our freshmen for their efforts this afternoon. I think we just ran out of gas in the last match, but what an effort by the whole team."
Tennessee Tech 4, Furman 2
Paced by Dao and Rohlin's 6-2 doubles win over Nicolas Dispas and Alex Han in the No. 2 position, the Golden Eagles (3-5) rolled their way to the tandem point after No. 79 Alex Alvarez and Davids Spaks earned a 6-3 victory against Theophile Joly and Nico Snyder in the top spot.
The No. 3 battle pitting Diego Munoz and Murilo Burkhardt and Evan Duggal and Landon Ecarma did not finish.
Tech found similar success over the Paladins (2-6) in singles play thanks to wins in three of the five completed clashes. Davids Spaks and Murilo Burckhardt each notched their third consecutive solo nod after Spaks earned a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4) in the No. 3 matchup and Burckhardt captured a 6-3, 6-2 win against Walker Allen in the No. 5 meeting.
Diego Munoz joined the Golden Eagle pair in the singles winner's circle behind 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nicolas Dispas in the No. 4 gathering. Furman's two solo victories came courtesy of a Nico Snyder 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Oliver Dao in the top slot and a Theophile Joly 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 decision against Alex Alvarez in the No. 2 showdown.
The No. 6 tangle between Christian Cappuccini and Landon Ecarma did not finish.
Chattanooga 4, Tennessee Tech 3
The Mocs (2-4) snapped Tech's two-match doubles winning streak after beginning Friday's afternoon's contest with victories in two of the three tandem tangles. Cortland Grove and Jakub Jupa took home a 6-3 decision over No. 79 Alex Alvarez and Davids Spaks in the No. 1 get-together, while Julian Franzmann and Kristof Kinces topped Oliver Dao and Linush Rohlin with a 7-6 (7-2) victory in the No. 2 affair.
Murilo Burckhardt and Diego Munoz pushed Tech to a doubles win with a 6-3 triumph against Jaxon Lamb and Carter Ramthun.
Munoz, Alvarez and Rohlin all went on the earn solo nods with Alvarez collecting a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Julian Franzmann in the No. 2 contest, Munoz seizing a 6-1, 6-3 win against Martin Delnido in the No. 4 meeting and Rohlin picking up a 6-3, 6-4 triumph against TJ Ryerson for the Golden Eagle freshman's first collegiate singles win.
Kristof Kincses won the tilt's only three-set singles showdown behind a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Christian Cappuccini. The other UTC solo triumphs came in straight sets after Jakub Jupa took down Oliver Dao, 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 1 slot and Cortland Gove secured a 6-4, 6-2 win over Davids Spaks in the No. 3 matchup.
The Golden Eagles will now set their sights on their home opener with a Friday, Feb. 27 meeting against Lipscomb. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT. Admission to Tech Tennis Courts is free of charge.
Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics
