Box Score The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 match at Alabama tonight.  Freshman Cooper Long was the highlight for the Mocs, winning a three-setter at No. 6. 

Long defeated Sam Fischer (6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (8)) for his second win this spring.  Sophomore Niklas Gerdes challenged the Crimson Tide's top player before falling to Mazen Osama (6-2, 7-6 (2).

"We played well tonight," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher.  "These kids are getting better every day.  Alabama is a tough team and we did not back down on any court.  I am very proud of this group."

Up next for the Mocs is a pair of matches on Saturday, Jan. 27.  UTC travels to Austin Peay for a 1:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) dual before facing Abilene Christian in a neutral match at 7:00 p.m. in Hardin, Ky.

Alabama 6, Chattanooga 1
Jan 20, 2018 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Roberta Alison Baumgardner)
Doubles competition
1. Thibault Cancel/Alexey Nesterov (UA) def. Niklas Gerdes/Simon Bustamante (UTC) 6-2
2. Patrick Kaukovalta/Edson Ortiz (UA) def. Pablo Llebeili/Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-3
3. Sam Fischer/Grant Stuckey (UA) def. Jacob Marshall/Cooper Long (UTC) 6-2

Singles competition
1. Mazen Osama (UA) def. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Thibault Cancel (UA) def. Simon Bustamante (UTC) 6-3, 6-1
3. Edson Ortiz (UA) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
4. Alexey Nesterov (UA) def. Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-1, 6-3
5. Grant Stuckey (UA) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Cooper Long (UTC) def. Sam Fischer (UA) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8)

Match Notes
Chattanooga 1-2
Alabama 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,3,2,5,1,6)