The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team scored a 5-2 win over Toledo at the UTC Tennis Center this afternoon.  The Mocs took the doubles point and four singles matches to improve to 12-4 overall.  The Rockets dropped to 10-6 with the loss. 

Senior Niklas Gerdes continued his outstanding final season at UTC with wins in singles and doubles.  He teamed with sophomore Tomas Rodriguez for a point-clinching win at No. 1.  He then scored a straight sets win at No. 1 singles to improve to 15-1 in the spring. 

"This was a hard fought match," stated UTC head coach Chuck Merzbacher. "I was proud of our doubles start. No. 3 doubles of Turner and Luke played a smart and solid match to put the pressure on Toledo. Tomas and Niklas had a comeback win, being down 1-4 to win 6-4.  Kerim and Simon were in position to win theirs.
 
"Singles matches were all fairly close and I thought the guys did a great job of defending our home courts. This was a confidence booster for us as we head into our match with Mercer."
 
Senior Tuner Voges and junior Luke Plaisted got things started with a win at No. 3 doubles.  The Mocs were able to keep the momentum going into singles action, with freshman Jeffrey Dewald winning a quick one at No. 4. 
 
After Gerdes made it 3-0, Toledo got on the board with a win at No. 3.  Rodriguez clinched the match at No. 2, followed by senior Simon Bustamante's three setter at No. 5.   
 
Up next for the Mocs is back to league action on Sunday at Mercer.  First serve against the Bears is set for 2:30 p.m. (E.D.T) in Macon, Ga.
 
Chattanooga 5, Toledo 2
03/06/2020 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) def. Danilo Vukotic (TOLEDO) 6-3, 6-4
2. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOLEDO) 6-2, 6-4
3. Cole Shoults (TOLEDO) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-1, 7-5
4. Jeffrey Dewald (UTC) def. Thawin Suksathaporn (TOLEDO) 6-3, 6-4
5. Simon Bustamante (UTC) def. Luis Kleinschnitz (TOLEDO) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
6. Max Skaer (TOLEDO) def. Jacob Marshall (UTC) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 1-0 (10-4)

Doubles competition
1. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Danilo Vukotic/Filip Zupancic (TOLEDO) 6-4
2. Simon Bustamante/Kerim Hyatt (UTC) vs. Cole Shoults/Krzysztof Wetoszka (TOLEDO) 5-4, unfinished
3. Turner Voges/Luke Plaisted (UTC) def. Luis Kleinschnitz/Thawin Suksathaporn (TOLEDO) 6-3

Match Notes
Toledo 10-7
Chattanooga 12-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,1,3,2,5,6)
T-2:31 A-25