March 14, 2012

Tech drops 6-1 match to future OVC foe Belmont

Belmont won't join the Ohio Valley Conference until next season, but the Bruins got a little taste of league play Wednesday when they claimed a 6-1 victory over Tennessee Tech.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Future Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont University gave the Tennessee Tech tennis team a glimpse of the future Wednesday night when the host Bruins earned a convincing 6-1 victory over the Golden Eagles at Centennial Sportsplex in Nashville.

Belmont won the first point of the evening as it swept all three doubles matches.

In singles, the Bruins continued their strong play as they won five of six matches to clinch the victory. Tech's lone win came at No. 5 singles where senior Justin Kirstein prevailed in a marathon contest. After dropping the first set, 6-2, Kirstein battled back to tie the match with a tough 7-5 win in the second set. He claimed the third-set tie-breaker, 10-7. Belmont took straight-set wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 singles.

Artem Tarasov won the first set at No. 6 by a 6-4 margin, but Bruno Silva came back to win the next two, 6-4 and 10-4 for the point.

Tech, now 1-7 in dual matches this spring, will play Saturday at UNC Asheville at noon. Belmont improved to 3-8.