The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s tennis team has two matches on the schedule this weekend.  The Mocs host a Saturday double header on Feb. 15 at McCallie’s Strang-Voges Tennis Center in Chattanooga.

UTC welcomes Lipscomb at 1:00 p.m. (E.S.T.), followed by a 7:00 p.m. match against Young Harris. Links for live scoring for both contests are available on the men’s tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com. 

The Mocs are 8-1 overall and riding an eight-match winning streak.  It is the longest run of consecutive wins since nine in a row in 2007. 

Senior Niklas Gerdes leads the way with a 9-0 record at No. 1.  He is 7-0 at No. 2 doubles with sophomore Tomas Rodriguez.  Rodriguez has won seven in a row and is 7-1 at No. 2 singles.

Senior Turner Voges has been limited most of the spring, but is working his way back into the doubles lineup.  Freshman Jacob Dewald is riding an eight-match winning streak at No. 4 singles, while junior Jacob Marshall has won six in a row at No. 6. 

“Another rivalry comes to town this Saturday,” stated head Coach Chuck Merzbacher.  “Lipscomb is really having a great start to the season and we know that we will have to be up for this challenge. All spots, doubles and singles, will be important vs Lipscomb. We expect it to be a highly spirited match.

“After the Lipscomb match, we will play YHC and I’d like to get some playing time for a few more Mocs. All the guys have been working hard on their games and we need them to get some playing time.”

The Bison are 6-0 on the year, including a 4-3 win over UNC Asheville in its last match on Feb. 7. The Mocs beat UNCA 6-1 last weekend.  Other common opponents include Appalachian State and Austin Peay.  Both teams beat the Mountaineers 6-1 and the Governors 7-0. 

UTC is 14-6 all-time against Lipscomb, including wins in the last two meetings. Chattanooga edged out a 4-3 victory in Nashville last year.

Young Harris is an NCAA Division II program located in Young Harris, Ga.  This is the Mountain Lions first match of the spring.  The only other meeting on record is a 5-2 Mocs’ win in Chattanooga in 1954.