Box Score The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision at Belmont tonight.  The Mocs scored a win in singles and doubles in non-conference action on the road. 

Belmont went up early in doubles with a win at No. 2, but freshmen Jacob Marshall and Cooper Long evened it up with a 6-4 victory at No. 3.

Sophomores Niklas Gerdes and Simon Bustamante were in a battle at No. 1, and had two match points, but eventually lost 7-6 (5).

"It was a very close match and a 3.5-hour battle," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher.  "We had a couple match points to get the doubles point, followed by some high level matches at every singles spot. Hats off to Belmont, they played well at home and definitely looked comfortable in their building tonight."

Gerdes had the lone singles win for the Mocs, taking the point at No. 1.  Bustamante and junior Pablo Llebeili lost in three sets. 

Up next for UTC is a double-header on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Manker–Patten in Chattanooga.  The Mocs host North Alabama at 1:00 p.m. (E.S.T.), followed by Tennessee Wesleyan at 6:00 p.m.

Belmont 6, Chattanooga 1
Feb 03, 2018 at Nashville, Tenn. (Centennial Sportsplex)
Doubles competition
1. Marko Ilic'/Hendrik Inno (BEL) def. Niklas Gerdes/Simon Bustamante (UTC) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Stephen Goldman/Zak Khan (BEL) def. Pablo Llebeili/Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-4
3. Jacob Marshall/Cooper Long (UTC) def. Vincent Sterkens/David Faulkner (BEL) 6-4

Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Hendrik Inno (BEL) 7-5, 6-4
2. Marko Ilic' (BEL) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 7-6, 6-7, 7-5
3. Vincent Sterkens (BEL) def. Simon Bustamante (UTC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4. Zak Khan (BEL) def. Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Jake Briggs (BEL) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Stephen Goldman (BEL) def. Cooper Long (UTC) 6-2, 6-3

Match Notes
Chattanooga 2-5
Belmont 3-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,1,3,5,6,2)
T-3:30