Box Score STARKVILLE, Miss. (Jan. 13, 2024) – The Chattanooga Mocs men's tennis team opened the season with a hard-fought neutral match, eventually dropping a 5-2 decision to Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon inside the Rula Tennis Pavilion in Starkville, Mississippi.
 
Following the defeat, Chattanooga opens the season 0-1. Northern Illinois opens its winner and starts out 1-0 on the new season.
 
"The doubles point was important, however, in the singles we battled to get three sets. We almost turned it around there," said head coach Chuck Merzbacher after the match.
 
"Gabriel Castillo had an excellent and well-played win at No. 1. Ryan Mudre competed well and did his job – he's tough when tough is needed," added Merzbacher.
 
"We have a lot to build on, but we had to start somewhere."
 
Chattanooga (0-1) returns to action tomorrow with a matchup against host and 17^th-ranked Mississippi State. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. ET. Match coverage links including live video and stats are located on the schedule page.
 
Northern Illinois vs Chattanooga
Jan 13, 2024 at Starkville, Miss.
(Rula Tennis Pavilion)
Northern Illinois 5, Chattanooga 2
 
Singles competition
1. Gabriel Castillo (UTC) def. Mikael Vollbach (NIU) 6-4, 6-4
2. Cheng En Tsai (NIU) def. Jakub Jupa (UTC) 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-3)
3. Iker Gaztambide (NIU) def. Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-3, 6-2
4. Ryan Mudre (UTC) def. Christopher Norlin (NIU) 6-0, 2-6, 6-4
5. Saul Berdullas (NIU) def. Kristof Kincses (UTC) 6-4, 7-5
6. Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Peyton Gatti (UTC) 6-1, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Cheng En Tsai/Mikael Vollbach (NIU) def. Peyton Gatti/Jakub Jupa (UTC) 6-4
2. Iker Gaztambide/Christopher Norlin (NIU) def. Kristof Kincses/Cortland Grove (UTC) 6-4
3. Saul Berdullas/Armin Koschtojan (NIU) def. Gabriel Castillo/Jordan McClure (UTC) 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Northern Illinois 1-0
Chattanooga 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,3,5,1,2,4)
Official: Wes Mayfield T-2:45 A-97
 
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA MEN'S TENNIS
Follow @GoMocsMTennis on Twitter & @GoMocsMTEN on Instagram for the most up-to-date information and news regarding Chattanooga men's tennis.

GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.