LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis saw senior Kerim Hyatt advance to the consolation semifinals in singles action while the team totaled a combined 12 victories during last week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Ohio Valley Regional event held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the campus of the University of Louisville and Bellermine University.
 
Gabriel Castillo and Ryan Mudre were the lone Mocs to advance to the main draw round of 64 in singles play after picking up wins in the opening round of 128 over opponents from in-state foes Belmont and Tennessee State, respectively. Castillo and Mudre both dropped three-set matches in the round of 64.
 
"I believe we had some 25 singles matches played over the weekend, as Gabe and Ryan advanced to the second round of main draw," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher following the event. "We definitely had chances to advance a few more but played well throughout."
 
On the consolation side of singles, Chattanooga was represented by six players and posted five wins out of the six matchups in the round of 64. Kristof Kincses and Kerim Hyatt were among the five and became the two UTC representatives to advance to the round of 16.
 
Kincses dropped a 6-3, 6-0 decision to Xavier's Ryan Cahill while Hyatt continued to push through the consolation bracket with a 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 win over Tennessee Tech's Carlos Vicente. Hyatt reached the semifinals after a thrilling 6-3, 5-7, 10-7 tiebreak win over Ball State's Danilo Kovacevic. Hyatt was forced to retire due to injury in the semifinals.
 
"Kerim played to the semifinals of the consolation singles and got some quality wins on his run," added Merzbacher.
 
In doubles play, it was the duo of Kincses and Hyatt that earned the team's lone win in the main draw round of 64. The tandem defeated IUPUI's Alex Jochim and Emil Jankowski, 8-7 (2), to advance to the final 32. Memphis' Pablo Alemany and Pau Fanlo defeated the Mocs pair by an 8-5 count.
 
"The doubles draw, first round matches - were tough but we played well. Kristof and Kerim kept getting better each day and look to be a strong team for us with a second-round advancement in the main draw," added Merzbacher.
 
The ITA event provided extremely valuable experience and competition for the group ahead of the 2023 spring season just a few months away.
 
"There is no doubt we got much needed experience for our young guys and lots of good quality matches for the entire team. It has been a good fall so far and we are looking forward to hosting the UTC Steve Baras in a couple of weeks," concluded Merzbacher.
 
ITA OHIO VALLEY REGIONAL
MAIN DRAW SINGLES – ROUND OF 128
Gabriel Castillo (UTC) def. Jack Randall (BEL) - 7-6 (3), 6-3
Ronit Hiryur (DAY) def. Simon Labbe (UTC) - 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
Sam Edgar (MEM) def. Jordan McClure (UTC) - 6-0, 6-2
Ryan Mudre (UTC) def. Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSU) - 7-5, 3-6, 7-5
Shu Matasuoka (MTSU) def. Peyton Gatti (UTC) - 6-1, 6-1
Niklas Von Hellens (BEL) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) - 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
 
ROUND OF 64
Natan Rodrigues (LOU) def. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) - 6(5)-7, 6-1, 6-2
Nick Nienhaus (NKU) def. Ryan Mudre (UTC) - 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
 
CONSOLATION SINGLES – QROUND OF 64
Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Erik Eliasson (DAY) - 6-2, 6-4
Simon Labbe (UTC) def. Carlos Salas Tulla (LIP) - 3-6, 6-3, 12-10
Jordan McClure (UTC) def. Rahulniket Konakanchi (BUT) - 7-5, 6-4
Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. Tate Sandman (UK) - 6-2, 6-4
Will Mayew (LOU) def. Quinten Nevenhoven (UTC) - 6-0, 6-2
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Trevor Ball (NKU) - 6-1, 6-1
 
ROUND OF 32
Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Jack Randall (BEL) - Wo [inj]
Tom Ciszewski (IUPUI) def. Simon Labbe (UTC) - 6-4, 6-2
Francisco Lamas (ETSU) def. Jordan McClure (UTC) - 2-6, 7-6 (3), 10-3
Nathaniel Webster (BALL) def. Peyton Gatti (UTC) - 4-6, 6-1, 10-6
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Eli Wood (BU) - 6-4, 7-5
 
ROUND OF 16
Ryan Cahill (XAV) def. Kirstof Kincses (UTC) - 6-3, 6-0
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Carlos Vicente (TTU) - 6-3, 3-6, 10-8
 
QUARTERFINALS
Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Danilo Kovacevic (BALL) - 6-3, 5-7, 10-7
 
SEMIFINALS
Nathaniel Webster (BALL) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) - Wo [inj]
 
MAIN DRAW DOUBLES - ROUND OF 64
Kerim Hyatt/Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Alex Jochim/Emil Jankowski (IUPUI) - 8-7 (2)
Alfred Wallin/Jack Randall (BEL) def. Jordan McClure/Simon Labbe (UTC) - 8-2
Juan Sebastian Zabala/Sam Edgar (MEM) def. Peyton Gatti/Gabriel Castillo (UTC) - 8-6
Conor Gannon/Harry Rock (MEM) def. Ryan Mudre/Quinten Nevenhoven (UTC) - 8-3
 
ROUND OF 32
Pablo Alemany/Pau Fanlo (MEM) def. Kerim Hyatt/Kristof Kincses (UTC) - 8-5

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