Red Raiders soar into first win of the season

LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech opened the spring season with a 5–2 victory over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Friday afternoon at the McLeod Tennis Center.

In doubles, the duo of Niksa Arsic and Thiago Guglieri posted their first ranked win of the spring season in a quick and decisive match over No. 46 Saheb Sodhi and Eric Perkowski, 6-1, at the top court. Clinching the doubles point was the duo of Ludovico Vaccari and Thomas Van Den Dooren after they took down Jose Murariu and Matei Varbanciu, 6-3, at court three. Over on court two, Sebastian Abboud and Tyler Stewart were tied with Kale Mize and Jay Temming, 4-4, when it went unfinished.

In singles, Texas Tech struck first on court six after Guglieri defeated Ritabrata Sarkar with a perfect second set, 6-3, 6-0, to take the Red Raiders to 2-0. Abboud followed this up with another straight-set victory for Tech, 6-4, 6-4, over Temming on court five.

Southern Miss would earn a point at court two to cut into the Red Raider lead, but Felipe Pagnacco rallied for a three-set win at court three over Olle Noltorp, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the match at 4-1. Van Den Dooren closed out singles play for the Red Raiders with his first dual singles win of his career with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) defeat of Perkowski on court four.

Up next, the Red Raiders head to Colorado to compete against the Denver Pioneers on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. CT.

RESULTS

Singles

1. Kale Mize (USM) def. Niksa Arsic (TTU) 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 1-0 (13-11)

2. Jose Murariu (USM) def. Tyler Stewart (TTU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3

3. Felipe Pagnacco (TTU) def. Olle Noltorp (USM) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3

4. Thomas Van Den Dooren (TTU) def. Eric Perkowski (USM) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)

5. Sebastian Abboud (TTU) def. Jay Temming (USM) 6-4, 6-4

6. Thiago Guglieri (TTU) def. Ritabrata Sarkar (USM) 6-3, 6-0

Doubles

1. Niksa Arsic/Thiago Guglieri (TTU) def. #46 Eric Perkowski/Saheb Sodhi (USM) 6-1

2. Sebastian Abboud/Tyler Stewart (TTU) vs. Kale Mize/Jay Temming (USM) 4-4, unfinished

3. Ludovico Vaccari/Thomas Van Den Dooren (TTU) def. Jose Murariu/Matei Varbanciu (USM) 6-3

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,5,2,3,4,1)

Texas Tech Men's Tennis

19 NCAA Tournament Appearances

10 NCAA Singles Championship Participants

13 NCAA Doubles Championship Participants

Seven All-Americans

2016 Big 12 Champions

53 Academic All-Big 12 Selections

Career-high ITA End of Year Team Ranking of No. 11

Eight Top-25 ITA End of Year Team Rankings

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