Box Score The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 match to USC Upstate at the Champions Club this afternoon.  The Mocs fall to 4-8 overall while the Spartans improved to 3-8.

UTC dropped the doubles point in the first two matches.  Competition was close at No.1 and No. 3, but the Mocs could not get on the board before Upstate had two wins. 

Chattanooga also had trouble gaining momentum in singles play.  UTC lost five first sets and fell behind 2-0 when freshman Pablo Llebeili was beaten at No. 5. 

Senior John Peacey gave the Mocs some life with his win at No. 4, closing the team score to 2-1 in favor of the Spartans. Peacey bounced back nicely after sitting out the Troy match with an injury for his first win of the spring.

The Mocs kept battling, winning the second set in two matches and fighting hard in another.  Upstate went up 3-1 with a win at No.4 over senior Luke Saunders. 

Junior Luke Saunders and freshman Paul LaHue were in the third set at their matches at No. 1 and No. 6, respectively.  Senior Nick Wingord was trying to keep Chattanooga in it, despite being down a set and in a tiebreaker in the second.  He lost the extra frame and the Spartans clinched the team win. 

Upstate would also win the last two matches for the final score of 6-1.

Chattanooga is on the road this weekend for a trip to Jacksonville State.  Action takes place on Saturday, March 12 – at 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in Jacksonville, Ala.  Check the men's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com for a link to live scoring.    

USC Upstate 6, Chattanooga 1
Mar 08, 2016 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Champions Club)
Doubles competition
1. SIMONETTI, Ramon/ARORA, Ankush (UPST) def. Luke Saunders/John Peacey (UTC) 6-4
2. HAUPT, Lenhard/GARRIDO, Ignacio (UPST) def. Lucas Plesky/Nick Wingord (UTC) 6-1
3. Michael Birnbaum/Paul LaHue (UTC) vs. DHARNI, Rajanvir/BENNION, Matt (UPST) 4-5, unfinished

Singles competition
1. SIMONETTI, Ramon (UPST) def. Lucas Plesky (UTC) 6-3, 0-6, 6-3
2. ARORA, Ankush (UPST) def. Nick Wingord (UTC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
3. YATES, Jamie (UPST) def. Luke Saunders (UTC) 6-2, 6-3
4. John Peacey (UTC) def. GARRIDO, Ignacio (UPST) 6-3, 7-5
5. DHARNI, Rajanvir (UPST) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-2, 6-3
6. BENNION, Matt (UPST) def. Paul LaHue (UTC) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2

Match Notes
USC Upstate 3-8
Chattanooga 4-8
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,4,3,2,6,1)
T-2:45 A-23