Mocs Tennis Team Faces ETSU For SoCon Title Saturday

(gomocs.com) CHATTANOOGA – The top-seeded Chattanooga Mocs men’s tennis team punched its ticket to the Southern Conference Tournament title match for the first time since 2006 after defeating No. 5 Furman 4-2 in the semifinal round on Friday morning at the Champions Club in Chattanooga.

Chattanooga improved to 18-6 overall after the win which marks the most wins in a single season since 2005 (18). UTC will look for its first SoCon Tournament title since 2000 with tomorrow’s title match. Furman concluded the season 11-14 following the loss.

Chattanooga opened the match with a 1-0 lead following thrilling doubles action in which the No. 2 duo of Kerim Hyatt and Kristof Kincses clinched the team point behind a 7-6 (8-6) tiebreak victory. Simon Labbe and Peyton Gatti posted a 6-3 win in the top spot to aid the doubles efforts.

“The doubles point was epic,” said head coach Chuck Merzbacher. “Kristof and Kerim taking the point with a huge tiebreaker. That point was huge.”

In singles, Cortland Grove extended the UTC lead to 2-0 following a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win at the No. 5 position. Ryan Mudre would up the lead to 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4 with four tight matches remaining in action.

Furman would capture victories at No. 1 and No.6 to pull within one at 3-2 with court two and three still in play. Gatti provided the electrifying match-clinching moment with a 7-5, 7-5 come-from-behind win at No. 3. Gatti trailed by a 5-2 count in both the first and second sets before rolling to his comeback victory.

“The kids all stepped up in singles and played as a team again,” added Merzbacher. “Peyton was just so tough coming back in both sets being down 5-2. That’s just toughness. As I’ve said, it’s just ten guys trying to find four points.”

Chattanooga will meet No. 3 ETSU in tomorrow’s Southern Conference Tournament title match for the third time in the tournament’s history. First serve is set for 1 p.m. ET at Champions Club.