CHATTANOOGA — The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis team continued its winning ways and defeated Furman for the first time since 2005 behind a 5-2 decision in Southern Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the UTC Tennis Center.
 
Following the win, Chattanooga improves to 14-4 overall this season and 4-0 inside SoCon play. Furman dropped to 7-12 on the year and 1-2 in the league after the defeat.
 
The win over Furman marked the first for UTC since 2005 which snapped an 18-match skid during the span. UTC's 4-0 start to SoCon play is the best since a 4-0 start back in 2002.

"The doubles point again was strong and important. All the teams played really solid," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher.

"The conditions got tough out there today as the wind picked up. I thought the guys handled it very well. We are playing as a team, and each guy is stepping up where they can. The kids are playing hard and smart. I'm very proud of them," added Merzbacher.

Chattanooga grabbed a 1-0 lead after doubles action following victories by the duos of Simon Labbe and Peyton Gatti and No. 1 and Gabriel Castillo and Cortland Grove at No. 3. The top duo posted a 6-3 victory to clinch the point following a 6-2 victory from the third doubles tandem.
 
In singles action, Furman tied the match 1-1 behind a victory at the No. 1 position before UTC rolled with four-straight victories. Castillo upped the team lead to 2-1 with a 6-4, 6-2 winner at No. 3 before Ryan Mudre and Cortland Grove capped off 7-5, 7-5 and 6-4, 7-6 wins, respectively, at No. 5 and No. 6 to clinch the match 4-1.
 
Labbe provided the team's fifth point with a 6-3, 7-5 victory at the No. 2 position before Furman earned its second and final point with a victory at No. 4.
 
Chattanooga returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 2, with a 2 p.m. ET matchup against Wofford for Senior Day at the UTC Tennis Center on campus. Live stats will be available and can be found on the schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
Chattanooga 5, Furman 2
4/1/2023 at Chattanooga, Tenn. (UTC Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Jerry Barton (FUR) def. Kerim Hyatt (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
2. Simon Labbe (UTC) def. Elijah Poritzky (FUR) 6-3, 7-5
3. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) def. Emil Westling (FUR) 6-4, 6-2
4. Thomas Kennedy (FUR) def. Peyton Gatti (UTC) 3-6, 7-6, 10-3
5. Ryan Mudre (UTC) def. Connor Laymon (FUR) 7-5, 7-5
6. Cortland Grove (UTC) def. John Rado (FUR) 6-4, 7-6
 
Doubles competition
1. Simon Labbe/Peyton Gatti (UTC) def. #79 Elijah Poritzky/Jerry Barton (FUR) 6-3
2. Cole Burnam/Thomas Kennedy (FUR) def. Kerim Hyatt/Kristof Kincses (UTC) 7-6
3. Gabriel Castillo/Cortland Grove (UTC) def. Alex Han/Ben Cahill (FUR) 6-2
 
Match Notes
Furman 7-12, 1-2 SoCon
Chattanooga 14-4, 4-0 SoCon
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,5,6,2,4)
UTC's first win over Furman since 2005 (18 matches)

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