February 26, 2012

Golden Eagles tripped by East Tennessee, 6-1

Syrym Abduhkalikov won another singles match, but it was the lone point earned by the Tennessee Tech tennis team as the Golden Eagles were tripped by East Tennessee State Sunday, 6-1.

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Junior Syrym Abduhkalikov won another singles contest Sunday, but it was the only point earned by Tennessee Tech as the Golden Eagles were tripped by East Tennessee, 6-1, in men's tennis action played at the Bristol Racquest Club,

Juan Ramirez clinched the second victory of the weekend for ETSU as he came back from a set down to defeat Tech's Alejandro Augusto Bueno in a third set tiebreak 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) on the Buccaneers' path to victory.

The Bucs took their first doubles sweep of the season against Tech. Sander Gille and Robin Akser started the day with their third-straight doubles win in an 8-2 defeat of Alex Chen and Abdukhalikov at the No. 1 spot. Jesus Bandres and Jorge Varon claimed an 8-4 victory against Bueno and James Crawford at No. 3, while Ramirez and Jeremy Bonnevalle defeated Vasily Eremeev and Artem Tarasov, 8-2, a the No. 2 spot.

Bonnevalle continued to carry the Bucs' momentum into singles play with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Eremeev to put ETSU up 2-0 in the match.

Tech got on the board at No. 1 singles with Abdukhalikov defeating Bandres 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.Abduhkalikov improved to 3-4 in singles play this spring, all coming at the No. 1 position.

It was the only point the Golden Eagles put up as Gille defeated Chen in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 2 match before Ramirez reeled in the clincher against Bueno. Akser and Rogerio Ribeiro finished the day at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, respectively. Akser defeated Tarasov, 8-2, and Ribeiro defeated Justin Kirstein, 6-0, 7-5.

The Golden Eagles will take a long break in action, with their next scheduled contest a March 14 match at Belmont.