Box Score The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team scored a 4-3 win over The Citadel at the Champions Club today. The Mocs won the doubles point and the first three singles match to even their overall record at 5-5.
Junior
Pablo Llebeili led the way with wins in singles and doubles. He teamed with freshman
Luke Plaisted to score a 6-3 win at No. 2 doubles. Llebeili followed that up with a (6-4, 6-2) straight-sets win over Matthew Henson at No. 3. That victory clinched the match as Llebeili improved to 3-2 at No. 3 in the spring.
"This was a match where everyone had a role in getting this team victory," stated head coach
Chuck Merzbacher. "The doubles point was key with No. 2 and No. 3 picking it up."
Sophomore
Niklas Gerdes was first off the court, cruising to a (6-2, 6-1) win over Noah Nawabi at No. 1 singles. Gerdes is now 6-3 at No. 1 in the spring and 13-8 overall. Fellow sophomore
Simon Bustamante also had a smooth (6-2, 6-1) win over Willim Van Zyl at No. 2.
"I cannot say enough as our most experienced kids stepped up at 1,2, and 3 singles," added Merzbacher. "We needed them and they just took care of their courts. That's a team win. Very proud of this group."
Up next for the Mocs is a home match against Montreat on Friday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. at McCallie's Strang-Voges Tennis Center.
Chattanooga 4, The Citadel 3
Feb 23, 2018 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Champions Club)
Doubles competition
1. Gavin Stewart/Noah Nawabi (CIT) def.
Simon Bustamante/
Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-2
2.
Pablo Llebeili/
Luke Plaisted (UTC) def. Jack Pyritz/Roy Hobson (CIT) 6-3
3.
Jacob Marshall/
Cooper Long (UTC) def. Will Graham/Trey Davis (CIT) 6-2
Singles competition
1.
Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Noah Nawabi (CIT) 6-2, 6-1
2.
Simon Bustamante (UTC) def. Willem van Zyl (CIT) 6-2, 6-1
3.
Pablo Llebeili (UTC) def. Matthew Henson (CIT) 6-4, 6-2
4. Gavin Stewart (CIT) def.
Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-1, 7-5
5. Jack Pyritz (CIT) def.
Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Roy Hobson (CIT) def.
Cooper Long (UTC) 7-6 (7-3), 6-1
Match Notes
The Citadel 5-11, 0-2 SoCon
Chattanooga 5-5, 1-0 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,2,3,4,6,5)
