CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis team earned its second-straight home victory after capturing a thrilling 4-3 decision over Georgia Southern on Sunday afternoon inside the Strang-Voges Tennis Center.
 
Chattanooga improves to 5-2 on the season after earning the victory in the two teams first meeting since 2018. Georgia Southern falls to 3-2 after the loss.
 
"The doubles point was huge as Peyton and Simon clinched that point with a strong tie breaker. We took that lead into singles play," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher.
 
"The guys are just competing and playing so hard for each other – I'm very proud of them."
 
The duo of Simon Labbe and Peyton Gatti clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (5) tiebreak win in the No. 1 hole. Initially down a match in doubles, the tandem of Kristof Kincses and Kerim Hyatt earned a 6-3 win at the No. 2 position before the top pairing's efforts.
 
Gabriel Castillo captured a 6-1, 7-5 win at in the No. 3 singles to tie the match at 3-3 after Kristof Kincses kicked off singles action with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 6. Gatti provided the match's final tally with a thrilling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Pierre Mouesca in the No. 4 position.
 
"Peyton's clinching the singles matches was amazing. He was tough when tough was needed. He really embraced the moment," added Merzbacher.
 
Chattanooga (5-2) returns to action on Friday at North Alabama with a 4 p.m. ET matchup in Florence.
 
Georgia Southern vs Chattanooga
2/12/2023 at Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Strang-Voges Tennis Center)
 
Chattanooga 4, Georgia Southern 3
Singles competition
1. Pol del Castillo (GS) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Aaron Williams (GS) def. Simon Labbe (UTC) 6-2, 6-0
3. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) def. Dimitiris Paliouras (GS) 6-1, 7-5
4. Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. Pierre Mouesca (GS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Judson Blair (GS) def. Ryan Mudre (UTC) 6-1, 6-1
6. Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Alexandros Roumpis (GS) 6-2, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Simon Labbe/Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. Pol del Castillo/Judson Blair (GS) 7-6 (7-5)
2. Kristof Kincses/Kerim Hyatt (UTC) def. Jacob Mitchell/Aaron Williams (GS) 6-3
3. Alexandros Roumpis/Valentin Dun (GS) def. Gabriel Castillo/Ryan Mudre (UTC) 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Georgia Southern 3-2
Chattanooga 5-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,2,1,3,4)

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