The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a 5-2 match at Eastern Kentucky today.  The Mocs (1-8) won the doubles point, but could not get things going in singles play against the Colonels (3-3) in the non-conference loss. 

Chattanooga opened by winning the doubles point for just the fourth time in nine matches this season.  Senior Pavels Grigorjevs and Gino Delavalle opened with an 8-7 win over Ramon van Flymen and Diogo Soares at No. 3.  They won the tiebreaker (7-1). 

Juniors Luke Saunders and Nick Wingord secured the point with an 8-6 win over Sebastian Mueller and Diego Asis at No. 2.  UTC's No. 2 duo improved to 4-3 on the season. 

“Today's match was the most physical match so far this season,” stated UTC head coach Carlos Garcia.  “Both teams were playing at a very high level. Doubles was tight on all 3 courts and it was great to win such a competitive point.”

EKU tied the match with Alex Alvaro's (6-3, 6-3) over Wingord at No. 1.  The Mocs went back up 2-1 after sophomore Nic Wilson defeated Juanjo de la Llera (6-4, 6-4) at No. 4.  The Colonels won the match by sweeping the last four singles bouts. 

“We started well in singles winning 3 out of 4 first sets in singles on the top 4 courts but we were not able to hold on,” added Garcia. “I give credit to EKU because they did not panic and they were able to get back in the match.”

Chattanooga is back home next weekend, hosting North Alabama on Saturday, Feb. 21.  Match time is set for Noon at the Hixson Racquet Club.  Live scoring is available on the men's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com. 

Eastern Kentucky 5, Chattanooga 2
02/12/15 at Richmond, Ky. (Greg Adams Tennis Center)
Doubles competition
1. ALVARO, Alex/DE LA LLERA, Juanjo (EKU) vs. Lucas Plesky/Nic Wilson (UTC) 7-7 (5-2), unfinished
2. Luke Saunders/Nick Wingord (UTC) def. MUELLER, Sebastian/ASIS, Diego (EKU) 8-6
3. Pavels Grigorjevs/Gino Delavalle (UTC) def. VAN FLYMEN, Ramon/SOARES, Diogo (EKU) 8-7 (7-1)

Singles competition
1. ALVARO, Alex (EKU) def. Nick Wingord (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
2. SAIDI, Daridge (EKU) def. Lucas Plesky (UTC) 5-7, 7-5, 7-5
3. VAN FLYMEN, Ramon (EKU) def. Luke Saunders (UTC) 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
4. Nic Wilson (UTC) def. DE LA LLERA, Juanjo (EKU) 6-4, 6-4
5. MUELLER, Sebastian (EKU) def. Gino Delavalle (UTC) 7-5, 6-3
6. SOARES, Diogo (EKU) def. John Peacey (UTC) 6-4, 6-4