The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team opened the 2020 spring season with a 6-1 loss at Alabama tonight.  The Mocs picked up nice wins in singles and doubles before dropping the dual match in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The opening doubles point was hotly contested.  Alabama's Patrick Kaukovalta and Zhe Zhou edged out UTC sophomore Kerim Hyatt and senior Simon Bustamante (6-4) at No. 1. 

The Mocs responded when senior Niklas Gerdes and sophomore Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) defeated Jeremy Gschwendtner and Riccardo Roberto (6-3) at No. 2.  Alabama won the point in with Sam Fischer and Marcelo Sepulveda's 7-5 win over Jeffrey Dewald and Luke Plaisted at No. 3.

Alabama won five of the six singles matches in straight sets, but UTC did have an impressive win at No. 1.  Gerdes took out Riccardo Roberto (6-0, 6-4) to give the Mocs their lone point of the night.  Riccardo had a No. 96 national ranking from the ITA.

Up next for the Mocs is tomorrow's doubleheader at the McCallie School's Strang-Voges Tennis Center on Chattanooga.  UTC hosts Appalachian State at 3:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) and Union College (Ky.) at 7:00 p.m.

Alabama 6, Chattanooga 1
01/18/2020 at Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Roberta Alison Baumgardner Indoor)
Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. #96 Riccardo Roberto (UA) 6-0, 6-4
2. Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
3. Patrick Kaukovalta (UA) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Jeremy Gschwendtner (UA) def. Jeffrey Dewald (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
5. Marcelo Sepulveda (UA) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
6. Avi Shugar (UA) def. Kaisei Kuroki (UTC) 6-0, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Patrick Kaukovalta/Zhe Zhou (UA) def. Kerim Hyatt/Simon Bustamante (UTC) 6-4
2. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Jeremy Gschwendtner/Riccardo Roberto (UA) 6-3
3. Sam Fischer/Marcelo Sepulveda (UA) def. Jeffrey Dewald/Luke Plaisted (UTC) 7-5

Match Notes
Chattanooga 0-1
Alabama 2-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,2,1)
T-2:15 A-105