HTML RESULTS
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Tennessee Tech's Syrym Abdukhailokov outlasted Morehead State junior Ji Hoon Heo in the final three-set singles match Friday, and the Golden Eagle men's tennis team escaped with a 4-3 victory over MSU at Sadler Courts.
TTU won its 11th consecutive Ohio Valley Conference affair since last season and improved to 3-9 and 3-0 in the league. MSU slipped to 6-9 overall and 2-3 in the league race.
Abdukhalikov rallied to top Heo, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3. The Golden Eagles also garnered singles wins at Nos. 2 and 4, while the hosts claimed victories on courts three, five and six. TTU won all three doubles matches to claim the opening point of the contest.
"We are getting better, but we need to get some things fixed in our doubles lineup," Head Coach Kevin Fulton said. "We have played a really tough schedule, but it's these kinds of matches our team needs to remember when it comes time for the conference tournament. We need to learn how to close out matches, but I like our chances as this season moves ahead."
In doubles, Abdukhalikov and Alejandro Augusto erased an early deficit to defeat Heo and freshman Nick Mercer, 9-7. At No. 2, sophomore Kevin Deligny and junior David Clifford could not hold on and lost 9-8 to Vasily Eremeev and Artem Tarosov. Tech's Othon Lima and Alvaro Cintas topped seniors Nathan Martin and Hugo Almonte, 8-2, on court three.
In singles, Deligny won for the eighth time in nine matches as he bested Lima, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6. On court five, Mercer knocked off Arturo Santa Ruiz, 6-2, 6-4. Freshman Giovanni Samaha claimed a 6-2, 6-3 victory on court three against Cintas.
Augusto and Eremeev each won straight setters at Nos. 2 and 4, respectively.
Morehead State returns to action Saturday versus OVC foe Jacksonville State. First serve at Sadler Courts is set for 10 a.m. ET. The MSU women will follow against JSU.
