The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team split its doubleheader at McCallie's Strang-Voges Tennis Center today.  The Mocs dropped a 4-3 match to undefeated Lipscomb before shutting out Young Harris 7-0 in the nightcap. 

Chattanooga's eight-match winning streak was snapped in the first match against the Bison, but the Mocs still improved to 9-2 overall  Lipscomb moved to 7-0 on the year while YHC, a Division II program from Georgia, counts this as an exhibition on its schedule. 

"We knew this was going to be a highly competitive and highly spirited match," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher after the loss to Lipscomb. "Again, the consistency in our effort and fight was evident. I'm proud of the guys and we just came up a bit short in this battle. Hats off to Lipscomb for a well-played match."

UTC dropped the doubles point, but senior Niklas Gerdes and sophomore Tomas Rodriguez remained undefeated at 8-0 with a win at No. 2. 

The Mocs tied the match at 1-1 when sophomore Kerim Hyatt won at No. 3.  That snapped a two match slide as he moved to 5-4 in the middle of the lineup. 

Lipscomb clinched the team win with the next three at No. 6, 5 and 2.  Freshman Jeffrey Dewald was able to win his ninth in a row at No. 4, while Gerdes moved to 10-0 at No. 1 in the spring. 

In the nightcap against Young Harris, the Mocs made quick work with a win in under two hours.  Gerdes and Rodriguez kept their streak alive at No. 2 doubles, while Hyatt and senior Simon Bustamante clinched the point at No. 1. 

Dewald was first off at No. 4, followed by Hyatt at No. 3 and junior Luke Plaisted at No. 6.  Rodriguez kept it going at No. 2, while junior Jacob Marshall moved up to No. 5 for the win.  Gerdes closed out the day, moving to 11-0 in the top spot. 

"Really proud of how the team came back after a super tough match earlier," added Merzbacher. "I know they were tired but they composed themselves and got the win against YHC.  Big week ahead, as we play SoCon foe The Citadel at home Friday."
 
Up next for Chattanooga is the Southern Conference opener against The Citadel on Friday, Feb. 21, at the UTC Tennis Center.  First serve for that one is set for 2:30 p.m. (E.S.T.). 

Lipscomb 4, Chattanooga 3
02/15/2020 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Strang-Voges Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Victor Chaw (LU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-4)
2. Pablo Caffarena (LU) def. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
3. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Jorge Ortegon (LU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jeffrey Dewald (UTC) def. Pedro Uribe (LU) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
5. Maksim Bogdanovich (LU) def. Turner Voges (UTC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
6. Jake Penny (LU) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 6-3, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Victor Chaw/Pablo Caffarena (LU) def. Simon Bustamante/Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-4
2. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Jorge Ortegon/Pedro Uribe (LU) 6-1
3. Gonzalo Garcia-Nieto/Jake Penny (LU) def. Jeffrey Dewald/Turner Voges (UTC) 6-1

Match Notes
Lipscomb 7-0
Chattanooga 8-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,6,5,2,4,1)
T-2:51 A-63

Chattanooga 7, Young Harris 0
02/15/2020 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Strang-Voges Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Kash Reddiyar (YHC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Ignacion Ascarrunz (YHC) 6-1, 6-2
3. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Andres Padilla (YHC) 6-1, 6-1
4. Jeffrey Dewald (UTC) def. Romeo Luque (YHC) 6-0, 6-2
5. Jacob Marshall (UTC) def. Harman Ronnberg (YHC) 6-4, 6-0
6. Luke Plaisted (UTC) def. Alex Schiltz (YHC) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Simon Bustamante/Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Alex Schiltz/Ruben Gonzalez (YHC) 6-3
2. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Ignacion Ascarrunz/John Brett (YHC) 6-3
3. Kash Reddiyar/Romeo Luque (YHC) def. Jeffrey Dewald/Luke Plaisted (UTC) 6-1

Match Notes
Young Harris 0-1
Chattanooga 9-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,3,6,2,1,5)
T-1:36 A-43