The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped its season opener at Middle Tennessee tonight.  The Mocs could not get on the board, falling 7-0 in tonight's match in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Despite the sweep, the Mocs did have some bright spots.  Freshmen Kerim Hyatt and Tomas Rodriguez were tied at 4-4 with Chris Edge and Tom Moonen at No. 1 doubles when the opening point was decided.  It was just the second time they had been paired together this season.

Junior Niklas Gerdes battled in a three set loss to Gonzalo Morell at No. 1.  Gerdes took the first set 6-2, before Morell won the second by the same score.  Morell, currently ranked No. 119 in the ITA, won the 10-point, super-tiebreaker 10-7 to take the match.

Rodirguez also had a close one with Stijn Slump at No. 2.  Rodriguez dropped both sets in tiebreakers.

Up next for the Mocs is a trip to No. 22 Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 19.  That match is the second of a double-header for the Crimson Tide, who also host No. 10 Michigan at 1:00 p.m. 

First serve for the Mocs-Alabama match is 7:00 p.m. at the Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor Tennis Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala.  A link for live scoring is available on the men's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com.

Middle Tennessee 7, Chattanooga 0
Jan 16, 2019 at Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Adams Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. #119 Gonzalo Morell (MTSU) def. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Stijn Slump (MTSU) def. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) 7-5, 7-6
3. Tom Moonen (MTSU) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
4. Max Rauch (MTSU) def. Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-1, 6-2
5. Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Pavel Motl (MTSU) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 7-6, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Kerim Hyatt/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) vs. Chris Edge/Tom Moonen (MTSU) no result
2. Pavel Motl/Gonzalo Morell (MTSU) def. Luke Plaisted/Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-2
3. Francisco Rocha/Max Rauch (MTSU) def. Jacob Marshall/Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-0

Match Notes
Chattanooga 0-1
Middle Tennessee 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,5,3,1,6,2)
T-2:20 A-65