CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis team dominated singles action during a hard-fought 5-2 victory over UNC Asheville in non-conference action on Friday evening inside the Strang-Voges Tennis Center at McCallie School.
 
Chattanooga improves to 4-2 on the season following the victory. UNC Asheville drops its first match of the season and moves to 2-1.
 
Asheville claimed a 1-0 lead after picking up doubles wins in the No. 1 and No. 2 positions to allow for the No. 3 tandem match to go unfinished. In singles, the Mocs used a strong performance on courts one, two, three and six to clinch the match at 4-1.

"I couldn't be more proud of these guys," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher following the match. "UNCA really put it on us in doubles and we needed to respond in singles."
 
Leading 3-1, Simon Labbe provided the match-clinching moment behind a hard-fought 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 decision in the No. 2 slot. Kerim Hyatt (6-0, 4-2, wd) picked up the first victory in the No. 1 match before Kristof Kincses (6-3, 6-2) earned a win at No. 6 and Gabriel Castillo (6-4, 6-2) at No. 3.
 
While the match was clinched, Peyton Gatti provided extra excitement for the Mocs with a thrilling 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 come-from-behind win in super tie-break fashion to notch the team's fifth point. Ryan Mudre dropped a 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 heartbreaker in the No. 5 hole to narrowly miss the six-match sweep.

"We showed real toughness across the board," Merzbacher added. "We really grew and played as a team."
 
Chattanooga (4-2) returns to action with another home match at the Strang-Voges Tennis Center at McCallie School on Sunday afternoon. First serve against Georgia Southern is set for 2 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available on GoMocs.com.
 
UNC Asheville vs Chattanooga
2/10/2023 at Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Strang-Voges Tennis Center)
 
Chattanooga 5, UNC Asheville 2
Singles competition
1. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Sam Nicholson (AVLMTEN) 6-0, 4-2, default
2. Simon Labbe (UTC) def. Jon Brann Reid (AVLMTEN) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
3. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) def. Harry Thursfield (AVLMTEN) 6-4, 6-2
4. Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. Chester Wickwire (AVLMTEN) 5-7, 6-3, 10-8
5. Freddy Murray (AVLMTEN) def. Ryan Mudre (UTC) 2-6, 6-3, 10-5
6. Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Bruno Serra (AVLMTEN) 6-3, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Rafa Serra/Jon Brann Reid (AVLMTEN) def. Simon Labbe/Peyton Gatti (UTC) 6-3
2. Sam Nicholson/Harry Thursfield (AVLMTEN) def. Kerim Hyatt/Kristof Kincses (UTC) 6-4
3. Gabriel Castillo/Ryan Mudre (UTC) vs. Bruno Serra/Chester Wickwire (AVLMTEN) 2-5, unfinished
 
Match Notes:
UNC Asheville 2-1
Chattanooga 4-2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,6,3,2,4,5)

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