Chattanooga needed Jorge Varon's best match of the season and got it.
The Valencia, Venezuela senior's straight set win at No.2 singles clinched the Mocs 4-2 win against No.8 seed Davidson in a first round match of the Southern Conference Tennis Championship at The Champions Club in Rivermont.
"Jorge played great in singles and doubles (winning at No.3) and of course those two team points were crucial in our 4-2 win," said UTC coach Carlos Garcia.
UTC won the important doubles point to go up 1-0 heading into singles and gained singles wins at Nos. 1-2 and 6 for the win.
"We gained crucial wins up top at Nos, 1-2 singles and had lost both positions in the dual match," Garcia stated whose team improves to 6-13 on the season.
"Winning the doubles point gave our singles players plenty of confidence heading into singles," said Garcia.
Davidson won the first two singles points for a 2-1 lead on wins from Wildcat sophomore and former McCallie player Evan Watkins at No.5 and Connor Evins at No. 3.
UTC freshman Derrick Brown claimed a win at No.6, followed by Pavels Grigorjevs at No.1 for a 3-2 lead to set up Varon's match-clinching triumph.
Coach Garcia's Comments on Doubles (UTC won at Nos. 1 and 3)
"At No.1, we were up 5-1 and two breaks, but Davidson tied it at 5-5 before we went on to win, 8-6.
At No.3, Davidson got an early break and went up 3-0 before we won six straight games and eventually won 8-5."
Chattanooga 4, Davidson 2 (Opening Round match)
| 1. Pavels Grigorjevs/Jorge Varon (UTC) def. Robert Lightbourn/Connor Evins (DAV) 8-6 |
| 2. Ethan Kallick/Evan Watkins (DAV) def. Austin Boaz/Derrick Brown (UTC) 8-5 |
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3. John Peacey/Gino Delavalle (UTC) def. Zack Zapatero/Alex Howard (DAV) 8-5
order of finish 2-1-3
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| 1. Pavels Grigorjevs (UTC) def. Robert Lightbourn (DAV) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 |
| 2. Jorge Varon (UTC) def. Ethan Kallick (DAV) 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) |
| 3. Connor Evins (DAV) def. Luke Saunders (UTC) 6-4, 6-2 |
| 4. Gino Delavalle (UTC) vs. J.B. Gough (DAV) 2-6, 6-2, 5-6, unfinished |
| 5. Evan Watkins (DAV) def. John Peacey (UTC) 6-3, 6-2 |
| 6. Derrick Brown (UTC) def. Ricky Saad (DAV) 7-5, 6-1 |
order of finish: 5-3-6-1-2
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@Comcast.net