NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University men's tennis dropped a 4-3 decision to Chattanooga Friday night from Ensworth Tennis Center.
In a meeting of two programs with conference championship and postseason aspirations this spring, a highly-competitive match was expected, and realized.
Belmont came out swinging in doubles, with the formidable pairings of senior Hendrik Inno (Someru, Estonia) and junior Marko Ilic (Zagreb, Croatia) and senior Vincent Sterkens (Antwerp, Belgium) and junior Grant Kelly (Atlanta, Ga.) quickly getting the Bruins on the board.
Momentum carried into singles' play, as Ilic and junior Taisei Miyamoto (Chiba, Japan) earned straight set victories to put Belmont on the verge of an overall match win.
But the Mocs gained points at second and fourth singles to place the focus squarely on first and sixth singles to decide the match.
Senior Felix Rauch (Osterode, Germany) took the opening set on SoCon Player of the Year candidate Niklas Gerdes, 6-4, but was unable to maintain control thereafter as Gerdes rallied to win in three.
Sterkens also took a promising first set, but fell in three to Jacob Marshall.
Belmont (3-3), which saw its three-match win streak snapped, returns to action Saturday vs. UNC Asheville. First serve is set for 2 p.m. CT.
