UTC Tennis Hosts Covenant For Senior Day On Tuesday

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's tennis team wraps up the 2021 season against Covenant College this week.  The Mocs host the Scots on Tuesday, April 20, at the UTC Tennis Center.  First serve is set for 3:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) and a link for live scoring is available on the men's tennis schedule page on GoMocs.com. 

Chattanooga is 8-11 overall and finished fifth in the Southern Conference race with a 3-4 league tally.  Only the top four teams advanced to the SoCon Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., this weekend, so this is the season finale for the Mocs.

Covenant is 11-4 overall and 5-0 in NCAA Division III USA South action.  UTC is 6-0 all-time against the Scots, including a 7-0 win in the last meeting on April 10, 2019.  All six meetings have taken place at UTC.

The Mocs are honoring three who are playing in their final matches on Tuesday, including Cooper Long, Luke Plaisted and Turner Voges. 

"All of our seniors are Chattanooga kids," explained head coach Chuck Merzbacher.  "We are quite proud of their contributions to UTC and glad that they came to play for their hometown University. They have represented the Chattanooga Mocs in every way. These seniors are tremendously good students and have played pivotable rolls on and off the court for this program."

Long is a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete and made the SoCon Honor Roll each year.  The Biology major is graduating in May. 

"Cooper was an incoming freshman when I started coaching at UTC," stated Merzbacher.  "He worked tremendously hard to contribute in the lineup and always competed in every match he played.  He was one of the most improved players I've had and really a few injury setbacks prevented him from having chances to play more."

"Cooper has performed outstanding in the classroom as well as his play on the court. He is going to Medical School in Fall and his work ethic and team player attitude will take him a long way as a doctor, no doubt."
Plaisted is another Biology major who is headed to Medical School.  He is a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete and earned the SoCon Commissioner's Medal each season. 

"Luke will tell you that he was my first recruit at UTC and he is correct," quipped Merzbacher.  "As I settled in to Chattanooga, I had heard of Luke going to school at UTC and that his father was a professor here. We set up a meeting and we needed the help to have enough players for a season.

"Luke stepped in and in a big way. He moved up to No. 4 singles and played No. 2/No. 3 doubles as a freshman. He probably advanced his game as quickly as I have seen anyone learn.  A few injuries along the way also prevented Luke from earning more playing time, but none the less, it was always a pleasure to see him at practice. He always worked hard and he always had a very positive attitude."

Voges came to UTC as a graduate transfer from Memphis.  The COVID-19 waiver allowed him to play an extra season and he has been outstanding.  He is 16-12 in singles this season and 10-7 at No. 2.  He is 18-9 in doubles and teams with Simon Labbe for a 10-5 mark at No. 2. 

"Turner was able to gain a 6th year with the COVID waiver and he made the most of it," added Merzbacher.  "He led the team with his spirit and attitude, along with his love for college tennis. He was a mainstay at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles, and had such a wonderful year.  He played in every match, finishing his collegiate career as one of the main players in our program.

"We are proud that he ended his collegiate career in his home city and battled for the Mocs! We will certainly miss Turner and wish we could have had him more than a couple of years, but it was great to have him in the program."