MEN'S FIRST ROUND SCORES
#2 Tennessee Tech 4, #3 Jacksonville State 3 |
Box Score
#1 Belmont 4, #4 Eastern Kentucky 2 |
Box Score
WOMEN'S FIRST ROUND SCORES
#2 Muray State 4, #3 Austin Peay 1 |
Box Score
#1 Eastern Kentucky 4, #5 Eastern Illinois 0 |
Box Score
MEN'S RECAPS
TENNESSEE TECH 4, JACKSONVILLE STATE 3
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - It went right down to the wire, but when the dust finally settled, the Tennessee Tech tennis team kept its bid at a third-straight OVC Tournament title very much alive. Come Sunday, shades of purple and gold will be well represented in the tourney's title match as Tech will be fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament at 10 a.m. CT from inside Nashville's Centennial Sportslplex.
The second-seeded Golden Eagles (9-11) prevailed 4-3 over No. 3 Jacksonville State in Saturday's seminal to propel TTU to its third-consecutive championship match appearance. Tech awaits the winner of Saturday's second semifinal pitting No. 1 Belmont against No. 4 Eastern Kentucky.
The Golden Eagles, who have captured the last two tourney titles, needed a win in the final singles bout to seize the semifinals clash with the Gamecocks (15-5). Deadlocked at 3-3, junior Wencesalo Albin was up to the task, prevailing when the lights were brightest with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over Pablo Caffarena in the No. 2 spot.
Trailing 3-2, JSU set the stage for the dramatic finish behind a Jaquin Vallejo three-set nod in the No. 3 position. The Asuncion, Paraguay native downed Marc Mila, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 to square things up in the tilt's waning moments.
No. 68 Eduardo Mena put Tech in a prime position early thanks to a 6-3, 6-0 win against OVC Freshman of the Year, Ajaz Kaplja, in the No. 1 spot. The victory gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead after TTU captured the doubles point.
Gonzalo Garcia joined Mena and Albin in the win column with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Andres Gomez in the No. 6 slot. JSU's other two singles nods came in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots as Guillermo Agost bested Jorge Alfonzo, 6-1, 6-1, in the No. 4 battle and Sergio Lizarraga took down Riku Kubota, 6-3, 7-6, in the No. 5 clash.
TTU's win in doubles action proved to be monumental in the match's narrow decision. The Golden Eagles secured victories in the No. 2 and No. 3 positions, with the Tech tandem of Wenceslao Albin and Riku Kubota gliding to a 6-4 victory against Sergio Lizarraga and Pablo Caffarena in the No. 2 spot and the Golden Eagle duo of Eduardo Mena and Gonzalo Garcia soaring to a 6-3 win against Ajaz Kaplja and Paolo Cucalon in the No. 3 matchup.
JSU captured the top doubles tilt with an Andres Gomez and Guillermo Agost 6-3 victory against Arthur Justo and Marc Mila.
Tech's bid at a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance begins at 10 a.m. CT from inside the Centennial Sportsplex.
BELMONT 2, EASTERN KENTUCKY 2
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Belmont Bruins Men's Tennis Team sealed a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Saturday, as they defeated the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, 4-2.
For the first time in program history, Belmont will play in the conference championship and will face the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, the team the Bruins beat to earn the top seed in the OVC tournament.
Belmont was very successful in doubles play, as they were able to win the first two matches that finished.
Hendrik Inno and Marko Ilic were very successful in their match against Ramon van Flymen and Gabriel Ruiz. With some beautiful touch shots from the two of them that would have made John McEnroe blush, they were able to win in decisive fashion, 6-1.
With Stephen Goldman / Zak Khan struggling in their match, it was up to David Faulkner and Vincent Sterkens to earn the doubles point for Belmont. They did just that, as they were able to win a tightly contested match at 6-3.
In singles play, Belmont and Eastern Kentucky were dead even until Ilic and Vincent Sterkens were able to break it wide open and win the overall match for Belmont.
On court 6, Jake Briggs was the first to finish, as he was able to cruise his way to victory to give Belmont the second point. Known as one of the louder guys on the court, he was able to use his intense energy in the match to carry himself through a dominating performance, winning 6-4, 6-1 against Carlos Dodero.
On court 5, Stephen Goldman was the second to finish as he was unable to earn a point for Belmont. He lost a match that was visibly frustrating for him against Nicolas Castaldo, 6-2, 6-4.
On court 1, Inno was the third to finish as he lost his match in two sets. He lost to Van Flyman, 6-3, 6-4.
On court 2, Ilic won a very closely contested first set at 6-4. It took Ilic a while to find his groove in that first set, but once he did, he was able to play with style. He had a beautiful play in the last game of the first set in which he was able to sky rocket a lob shot right in the perfect spot just behind his opponent, and then when he returned his opponent's shot, he was able to slice the ball just right to make it out of reach for his opponent. From then on, he was able to finish the job, as he won the second set 5-2.
Finally on court 3, Vincent Sterkens was the one who put it away. After he gave up the second set to Guillem Sanchis, 4-6, he found his groove and was able to shut the door
by winning the final set of the whole match, 6-4.
Belmont will take on Tennessee Tech in the OVC Championship on Sunday, 10 a.m. at Centennial Sportsplex.
WOMEN'S RECAPS
AUSTIN PEAY 4, MURRAY STATE 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University women's tennis team will play for an Ohio Valley Conference Championship after defeating rival Murray State, 4-1, Saturday, at the Centennial Sportsplex.
The Govs (12-8, 6-3 OVC) got off to a much better start against the Racers (14-8, 8-1 OVC) than the regular season match, although the Racers did win at No. 3 doubles. However, the Govs responded at No. 1 doubles, with Fabienne Schmidt and Claudia Yanes Garcia combining to win. The No. 2 doubles team of Ana Albertson and Helena Kuppig was involved in a match full of drama, with the match having multiple ups and downs. Down 6-5, the duo broke Murray State to force a tiebreaker, which they seized control of early to give the Govs a 1-0 lead going into singles.
Yanes Garcia continued her great play, winning the first set of her match at No. 2 singles, 6-1. Her twin sister, Lidia Yanes Garcia, went up early at No. 1 singles but was forced into a tiebreaker by some resiliency from Murray State's Claire Chang. Lidia held tough in the tiebreak and won the first set and not even a minute later, Fabienne Schmidt and Helena Kuppig also took the opening sets in their matches.
The Racers came back tough, as they ended up knotting the match up at one with a straight-set win at No. 5 singles and led at No. 6 singles. Kuppig's opponent came back strong to win the second set, forcing a third, deciding set. However, Claudia continued her consistent play, winning the second set and giving the Govs a 2-1 overall lead. Schmidt got a crucial break in the middle of the second set and held in her final two service games to win and put the Govs within touching distance of a berth in the OVC Championship. Lidia got off to another good start in the second set and this time, she would not relinquish it. The OVC Player of the Year laced a cross-court forehand on match point to send the Govs to the OVC Championship match.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Eastern Kentucky University women’s tennis team won its 10th match in a row after defeated Eastern Illinois, 4-0, Saturday night in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday night at the Centennial Sports Complex.
The Colonels quickly took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 to jump ahead early, 1-0.
Kristina Lagoda was the first singles match off the court at No. 2, picking up a 6-2, 6-1 victory. This was the sophomore’s 12th straight victory.
Margaux Lacroix won in straight sets at No. 6, 6-1, 6-2, to give the Colonels match point.
Laura Argente finished off the Panthers, taking the match at No. 1, 6-4, 6-3.
EKU has won the doubles point in 9-of-10 matches against conference foes.
The squad will play Austin Peay State in the championship tomorrow at approximately 3 p.m. ET.