The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team made it two-straight wins with a 5-2 victory at Alabama State today.  The Mocs overcame a 2-0 deficit to score their first true road win of the season.

Alabama State took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3.  Sophomore Derrick Brown and junior Nick Wingord avoided the doubles sweep with their (7-5) win over Takura Mlambo and Karlo Skvorc at No. 3.

The Hornets kept the scoring going when Mlambo defeated junior Pavels Grigorjevs (6-1, 6-4) at No. 1.  UTC was also down a set at No. 2 and Wingord was in the middle of a tough battle at No. 3. 

“The guys showed a lot of heart in the way they came together as a team and battled back” stated head coach Carlos Garcia.  “Nothing was going our way early, but we managed to stick together and get a win.”

Chattanooga won all five of the remaining singles, beginning with sophomore Nic Wilson at No. 4.  Junior Luke Saunders scored his third straight singles win and tied the match at 2-2 with a victory at No. 4. 

Wingord fought off Ronaldo Matabo (7-5, 6-2) at No. 3 to give Chattanooga a 3-2 lead.  Junior Gino Delavalle clinched the match at No. 6, his third singles victory in a row.  Sophomore Lucas Plesky battled back for a three set win at No. 2 to close out the match.

“This was a great win for our team because our backs were against the wall,” added Garcia.  “I feel as if we became better as a team today after winning in tough conditions on the road.”

The Mocs are back in action on Saturday, March 28, when they host Furman.  Match time is Noon (E.D.T.) on the UTC Tennis Courts.  Be sure to check the men's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com for a link to live scoring. 

Chattanooga 5, Alabama State 2
Mar 19, 2015 at Montgomery, Ala. (Olean Black Underwood Tennis Center)
Doubles competition

1. Jarred Thompson/Patrik Cvik (ALST) def. John Peacey/Luke Saunders (UTC) 6-4

2. Adam Coyne/Ronald Matabo (ALST) def. Nic Wilson/Pleasky, Lucas (UTC) 6-4

3. Derrick Brown/Nick Wingord (UTC) def. Takura Mlambo/Karlo Skvorc (ALST) 7-5

Singles competition
1. Takura Mlambo (ALST) def. Pavels Grigorjevs (UTC) 6-1, 6-4

2. Pleasky, Lucas (UTC) def. Patrik Cvik (ALST) 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 1-0 (10-4)

3. Nick Wingord (UTC) def. Ronald Matabo (ALST) 7-5, 6-2

4. Luke Saunders (UTC) def. Jarred Thompson (ALST) 6-3, 6-1

5. Nic Wilson (UTC) def. Stefan Vojnic (ALST) 6-2, 6-4

6. Gino Delavalle (UTC) def. Divijay Singh Naruka (ALST) 6-4, 6-3

Match Notes

Chattanooga 4-10

Alabama State 2-14

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,4,3,6,2)

T-2:40 A-20