The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team dropped a tight 4-3 match at Mercer today.  The Mocs dropped the doubles point and three singles matches to fall to 12-5 overall and 1-1 in Southern Conference action.

"I really could not be more proud of this group," stated head coach Chuck Merzbacher.  "They fought so hard. We were in position to win. Just a few points and we win 4-3. It was a complete match top to bottom. We'll get another chance with these guys again."

Senior Turner Voges and junior Luke Plaisted won at No. 3 doubles, but Mercer took the other two matches. 

Senior Niklas Gerdes was in a battle with No. 71 Oliver Stuart at No. 1 singles when he was forced to retire.  He was down a set, but up 4-1 in the second when he suffered an injury that would not let him continue. 

Chattanooga kept battling and got on the board when sophomore Tomas Rodriguez won in straight sets at No. 2.  Freshman Jeffredy Dewald tied the match at 2-2 with a three-set win at No. 4.  UTC actually took a 3-2 lead after senior Simon Bustamante also won in three sets at No. 5. 

Mercer would come back to win, taking three set matches at No. 3 and No. 6. 

Up next for the Mocs is a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., to face North Florida on Wednesday, March 11.  The next home match is March 29 against UNCG at the UTC Tennis Center. 

Mercer 4, Chattanooga 3
3/8/2020 at Macon, Ga. (LeRoy Peddy Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #71 Olivier Stuart (MER) def. Niklas Gerdes (UTC) 6-1, 1-4, retired
2. Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) def. Hugo Lobo (MER) 6-1, 6-2
3. Stathis Tsiranidis (MER) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Jeffrey Dewald (UTC) def. Carver Arant (MER) 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
5. Simon Bustamante (UTC) def. David Georgadze (MER) 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
6. Lucas Wayenburg (MER) def. Turner Voges (UTC) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. Olivier Stuart/Hugo Lobo (MER) def. Niklas Gerdes/Tomas Rodriguez (UTC) 6-2
2. Stathis Tsiranidis/David Georgadze (MER) def. Kerim Hyatt/Simon Bustamante (UTC) 6-4
3. Turner Voges/Luke Plaisted (UTC) def. Carver Arant/Lucas Wayenburg (MER) 6-4

Match Notes
Chattanooga 12-5, 1-1 SoCon
Mercer 4-10, 1-0 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,4,5,6,3)