Hokie ClubATHENS, Ga. – The No. 34 ranked Virginia Tech men’s tennis team battled No. 39 Nebraska on Sunday afternoon, picking up a 4-3 win at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Athens, Ga. Tech moves to 1-0 on the season while Nebraska falls to 0-1.
The match was back and forth as the two teams were tied at 3-3 but Tech’s Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci defeated Eric Sock, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) in the No. 5 to secure the match for the Hokies.
“Our three seniors really stepped up today,” said head coach Jim Thompson. “They played great matches and really battled. I thought Mauricio Antun also had a great match to help us pick up the win.”
Tech dropped the doubles point as Nebraska nabbed wins in the No. 2 and 3 doubles to go up 1-0 on the Hokies early in the match.
In singles matches, freshman Mauricio Antun tied up the score with a win in the No. 4, defeating Robert Schulze, 6-2, 6-3, but the Cornhuskers reclaimed the lead as No. 78 Benedikt Lindheim defeated the Hokies’ No. 71 Lucas Oliveira, 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 2.
Senior Patrick Daciek knotted the match again with a hard fought three set win in the No. 3. After winning the opening set 7-6(3), Nebraska’s Andre Stenger bounced back to claim the second set 6-1. Daciek stepped up in the third set for a 7-5 win to secure the point for Tech.
The Hokies extended their lead to 3-2 as No. 50 Luka Somen downed Nebraska’s No. 41 Christopher Aumuelle, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the No. 1. The Cornhuskers secured the No. 6 to tie the teams at 3-3 before Tocci’s win at No. 5 lifted the Hokies to the win.
Tech advances to face No. 4 Georgia on Monday. The Hokies and the Bulldogs are set to begin at 2 p.m.
No. 34 Virginia Tech 4, No. 39 Nebraska 3
Singles
1. #50 Luka Somen (VT) def. #41 Christopher Aumuelle (NEB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. #78 Benedikt Lindheim (NEB) def. #71 Lucas Oliveira (VT) 6-0, 6-2
3. Patrick Daciek (VT) def. Andre Stenger (NEB) 7-6(3), 1-6, 7-5
4. Mauricio Antun (VT) def. Robert Schulze (NEB) 6-2, 6-3
5. Corrado Degl’ Incerti Tocci (VT) def. Eric Sock (NEB) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
6. Tom Blackwell (NEB) def. Hunter Koontz (VT) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. No. 51 Tocci/Somen (VT) vs. No. 7 Lindheim/Aumuelle (NEB) 5-6 dnf
2. No. 44 Schulze/Stenger (NEB) def. Oliviera/Koontz (VT) 9-7
3. Gollner/Sock (NEB) def. Daciek/Marko Lovrinovic (VT) 8-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,2,3,1,6,5)