Sports

Tennis ends its season undefeated in the OVC

SIMPLY THE BEST- Alberto Esteban observes the court during his match up with Austin Peay’s Manuel Montenegro April 15. Photo by Shea Haile.

The Tennessee Tech tennis defeated Austin Peay Friday, April 15 and Murray State Saturday, April 16 to end the regular season undefeated at home and in conference play.

“That’s the best part, we went undefeated at home,” explained sophomore Jorge Alfonzo after Saturday’s game.

Tech swept the weekend with 7-0 victories over both teams. The Golden Eagles (13-6, 9-0) will go into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed. 

Tech’s 13 wins are the most since the 2008 season.

Austin Peay (7-10, 6-3) will be the No. 3 seed in the tournament, playing the six seed Belmont Bruins. APSU clinched the playoff berth Saturday defeating Jacksonville State 4-3.

Murray State (3-22, 1-8) finish their season Saturday. They didn’t qualify for the tournament.

No. 1 doubles team of Alex Arovin and Alberto Esteban defeated APSU Aaron Jumonville and Manuel Montenegro 6-3 and their match against MUR Marcel Ueltzhoeffer and David Schrott went unfinished 4-2.

Eduardo Mena and Marcos Bernardes’ match against APSU Aleh Drobysh and Almantas Ozelis didn’t finish at 6-6. They defeated MUR Will True and David Hess 6-1.

No. 3’s Alfonzo and Guillermo Nicolas defeated Alex Kartsonis and Chad Woodham (APSU) 7-6, 7-4 and defeated Srdjan Trosic and Javier Villar 6-2 to sweep the weekend.

Singles followed with the same dominance as doubles. Mena defeated Jumonville in three sets 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 and finished his impressive season with a win against Ueltzhoeffer 6-0, 7-6. Mena finished the regular season 18-1.

No. 2 Arovin defeated Ozelis 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 and MUR True 7-6, 6-3.

Esteban defeated Montenegro 6-2, 6-1 and blanked Trosic 6-0, 6-0.

Nicolas beat Drobysh 6-3, 2-6, 3-2 (retired), and Schrott 6-2, 6-3 from the four spot. Nicolas, as well as Mena, finished perfect against OVC opponents this spring.

No. 5 Bernardes took down Kartsonis 6-4, 1-6, 6-0 and defeated Hess 6-3, 6-3.

No. 6 spot, Alfonzo, made quick work winning 6-0, 6-2 against Woodham Friday. Alvaro Cintas defeated Villar 6-3, 6-4 Saturday.

“We need two wins to get to nationals,” said Alfonzo. “If we can win the tournament we will be playing against the top 16 universities in the U.S.”

The Golden Eagles will play the winner of Jacksonville State and Morehead State April 23. They must win to play in the championship April 24. The matches are held at the Centennial Sportsplex Tennis Center in Nashville.

“It’ll be tough, but we can do it,” said Alfonzo.