The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a 6-1 match to ETSU at the UTC Tennis Center today.  The Mocs fall to 11-10 overall and 2-3 in Southern Conference action, while the league-leading Bucs moved to 14-4 and 5-0 in SoCon duals. 

UTC won the opening doubles point by taking matches at No. 1 and No. 3.  ETSU won at No. 3, but junior Simon Bustamante and freshman Kerim Hyatt Yusuf Khamis and Frazier Rengifo 6-2.  Bustamante and Hyatt improved to 12-6 in the spring, the most wins by any duo in the No. 1 spot in the SoCon. 

Chattanooga clinched the point when junior Niklas Gerdes and freshman Tomas Rodriguez won in a tiebreaker over Miguel Este and Chris Mikrovas [7-6 (7-3)].  They moved to 15-3 in the spring, the most wins of any tandem at any spot in the SoCon this spring. 

The Bucs dominated singles play, but Chattanooga challenged in the top two spots.  Gerdes lost in a third set tiebreaker at No. 1.  Rodriguez won his first set at No. 2, but also lost the match in three. 

"Obviously, ETSU showed today why they are undefeated and the best in the SoCon," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher.  "The doubles point was a strong start for us. I thought Tomas really found his game at 2 and played well, and Niklas really played an outstanding match at 1.

"We look forward to playing them again potentially at the SoCon Tourney. Every match now has huge implications for the rest of the season. We have a lot to play for and it's exciting."

Up next for the Mocs is trip to Samford on April 3.  First serve against the Bulldogs is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Birmingham, Ala. 

ETSU 6, Chattanooga 1
03/31/2019 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) def. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (11-9)
2. Sergi Fontcuberta (ETSU) def. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
3. Juan Lugo (ETSU) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-4, 6-1
4. Yusuf Khamis (ETSU) def. Simon Bustamante (UTC) 6-1, 6-4
5. Miguel Este (ETSU) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-0, 6-2
6. David Gonzalez (ETSU) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Simon Bustamante/Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Yusuf Khamis/Frazier Rengifo (ETSU) 6-2
2. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Miguel Este/Chris Mikrovas (ETSU) 7-6 (7-3)
3. Sergi Fontcuberta/David Gonzalez (ETSU) def. Pablo Llebeili/Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-0

Match Notes
ETSU 14-4, 5-0 SoCon
Chattanooga 11-10, 2-3 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,4,6,3,1,2)
T-2:53 A-32