Tennis team hosts two home matches this weekend to begin OVC play
Tech welcomes Eastern Kentucky on Saturday and Morehead State on Sunday, with both matches scheduled to begin at noon on the campus tennis courts.
Eastern Kentucky was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as OVC champion in 2012 in the annual preseason coach’s poll, while Tech was picked for third place and Morehead State was tabbed to finish fifth.
The Golden Eagles have compiled a 2-7 overall record this spring in dual matches, but come into the weekend on the heels of a 4-3 victory at UNC Asheville in its final pre-OVC action. EKU is 12-6 overall and 2-0 in OVC matches, while Morehead State brings an 8-6 record into the weekend, including a 1-1 mark in conference.
Three players have compiled the top individual records among the Golden Eagles this year, led by Syrym Abdukhalikov at the No. 1 singles spot. The hard-hitting junior from Kazakhstan is 9-9 in singles play overall this year, his first on the courts for Tech after a transfer from Nebraska. He is 4-5 in dual matches this spring.
Justin Kirstein, a senior from South Africa, is next in line for Tech, posting a 7-9 overall singles mark including a 3-5 record in dual play. Vasily Eremeev, a sophomore from Russia, is 6-10 overall in singles action with a 2-7 record in play this spring.
Admission to all of Tech’s home matches is free.
Tech Baseball players receive OVC awards
After helping Tennessee Tech to a 3-1 record last week, sophomore Zach Stephens and freshman Seth Lucio have swept the Ohio Valley Conference weekly awards.
Stephens was named the OVC Player of the Week, while Lucio earned the OVC Pitcher of the Week award.
A native of Soddy-Daisy, Stephens finished the week batting .588, which included one home run in each of Tech’s four games. His seven runs and eight RBIs also led the team as he maintained a 1.412 slugging percentage. His two-run home run against Central Michigan Saturday turned out to be the game winner.
A freshman out of Locust Grove, Ga., Lucio earned his first career win as he threw 8.1 innings while striking out 11 batters and giving up just five hits. His 11 strikeouts were the most this season by any Tech pitcher in one game.
The Golden Eagles begin conference play this weekend as they travel to UT Martin for a three-game series.
Tech track and field begin outdoor season at Vanderbilt this weekend
The Tech women’s track & field team gets back to work this weekend, opening the outdoor season Friday and Saturday at the Black & Gold Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt University. A total of 19 teams and nearly 700 athletes will compete in the event. Tech’s possible standout performers include seniors Emily Weinzetl and Traci Jones; juniors Lacy Yslas, Katie Lowery and Madison Borden; and sophomores Brittany Cotto, Kelli Keck and Rebecca Cline.
