CHATTANOOGA --- The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis team made it four wins in-a-row with a 5-2 decision over in-state foe Tennessee State on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the UTC Tennis Center.
 
Following its fourth-straight victory, Chattanooga improves to 6-2 overall on the season. Tennessee State drops to 2-8 following the defeat.

"I'm really so proud these guys. It was a tough 36 hours and they just stepped up," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher. 

"Today against TSU, the ever important doubles point was big. At 4-5-6 singles, we set the tone and kept the momentum. We are a bit beat up and we had to move up our players and they crushed it! Ryan Mudre lost only 2 games this weekend, very impressive.

"Overall, we are just winning as a team. We need everyone, singles, doubles, starters, and off the bench. These guys get that."

In doubles action, Chattanooga earned a 1-0 lead after cinematic battle at the No. 1 pairing went in favor of the Mocs. After Kerim Hyatt and Kristof Kinsces posted a 6-1 win at No. 2, it was the duo of Simon Labbe and Peyton Gatti who fought their way to a 7-6 (4) tie-breaking win to clinch the team point.
 
Singles play started off with a pair of dominating victories at No. 4 and No. 6 featuring Ryan Mudre and Cortland Grove. Mudre posted a 6-1, 6-0 win at the four spot while Grove notched a 6-2, 6-0 victory in the six hole in near simultaneous fashion.
 
It was Kinsces who provided the match-clinching moment after claiming a 6-4, 6-2 win in straight sets at the No. 4 position. Labbe provided the team's fifth point with a 6-2, 3-6, 10-6 win in super tiebreak style at the No. 3 slot.
 
Chattanooga (7-2) returns to action next Sunday, February 26, with a non-conference road contest at Presbyterian before returning home to host Kennesaw State on Saturday, March 4. Match coverage links, if available, will be posted on the schedule page.
 
Chattanooga 5, Tennessee State 2
2/19/2023 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Nil Moinet (TSU) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-3, 7-5
2. Jonasz Dziopak (TSU) def. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) 6-3, 6-3
3. Simon Labbe (UTC) def. Taj Hibbert (TSU) 6-2, 3-6, 10-6
4. Ryan Mudre (UTC) def. Nicholas Adamec (TSU) 6-1, 6-0
5. Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Cortland Grove (UTC) def. Pierre Copin (TSU) 6-2, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Simon Labbe/Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. Pierre Copin/Nil Moinet (TSU) 7-6 (7-4)
2. Kerim Hyatt/Kristof Kincses (UTC) def. Taj Hibbert/Diego Britt-Alvarez (TSU) 6-1
3. Jonasz Dziopak/Nicholas Adamec (TSU) def. Gabriel Castillo/Jordan McClure (UTC) 6-1
 
Match Notes
Tennessee State 2-8
Chattanooga 7-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (6,4,5,3,1,2)
T-2:41 A-47

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