Men's Tennis Blanks Chattanooga to Remain Perfect on the Season

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Improving to 4-0 on the young season, the Belmont University men's tennis team was in fine form Sunday indoors at the Ensworth Tennis Center where the Bruins cruised to a 7-0 sweep of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Not surrendering a single set, Belmont gritted out the doubles point before getting strong performances throughout its singles lineup.
 
The visiting Mocs (3-2) entered Sunday riding a three-match win streak but proved to be no match for the determined Bruins.
 
A pair of 6-4 matches determined the doubles point at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. The duo of graduate student Marko Ilic and junior Riccardo Trione, the reigning Horizon League Doubles Team of the Week, secured the doubles point at the top spot against Chattanooga's Simon Labbe and Peyton Gatti. Junior Tomas Luis and sophomore Ian Cruz took the first doubles match of the day, defeating the Mocs' Gabriel Castillo and Ryan Mudre at the No. 3 spot.
 
Although unfinished, senior Jack Randall and sophomore Gabriel Sardo led Chattanooga's Kerim Hyatt and Kristof Kincses 6-5 at No. 2 doubles.
 
In singles action, Randall made his singles season debut and gave up only two games in a 6-2, 6-0 win over Kincses at the No. 6 position. Both Sardo and Trione won by identical scores of 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5 and No. 4 singles, respectively. Sardo took down Mudre before Trione clinched the match at the No. 4 spot against Gatti.
 
At No. 2 singles, Luis topped Labbe 6-2, 7-5 and Cruz bested Castillo 7-5, 6-1 at the No. 3 position. Ilic, the reigning Horizon League Singles Player of the Week, was victorious at the top singles spot, earning a 7-5, 6-3 win over Hyatt.
 
The victory is Belmont's second straight against the Mocs.
 
Up Next
The Bruins have a week off from match action before welcoming UNC Asheville to the Music City next Sunday morning. In two weeks, Belmont takes on in-town Southeastern Conference mainstay Vanderbilt down the road.
 
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