Box Score CHATTANOOGA – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team defeated Chattanooga 4-3 in thrilling come-from-behind fashion on the road Friday for the first win of the season.
 
JSU took the courts for the first time in the Spring 2022 season on Friday after Thursday's match against Lee was canceled due to weather.

In doubles the Gamecocks only recorded one win but could not secure the doubles point. Joaquin Vallejo and Aljaz Kaplja earned their first doubles win of the season, 6-3, from the No. 2 spot. No.1 and No. 3 doubles fell short for JSU as the Mocs took a 1-0 lead overall in the match.

In singles play Daisuke Inagawa ignited a comeback from the No. 6 singles spot, winning 6-2, 6-2 in straight sets. With the score even 1-1 overall, the Mocs regained the lead with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Vallejo in the No. 1 position. Chattanooga pushed the match lead to two, 3-1, with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Jordi Blanchar in the No. 5 spot. Vicente Arbelaez began another comeback for the Gamecocks with a win at No. 4 singles 7-6, 7-5.  Thomas Norwood followed Arbelaez's win with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 victory in the No. 2 position, evening the match 3-3. Vanja Dobrnjac clinched the match win from the No. 3 spot, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

With the win, JSU opens the season 1-0 and will host Wallace State on Saturday, Jan. 29 in the first home match of the year.  

"This is the kind of win that shows what type of culture we have. We were down 3-1 after dropping a tough doubles point and a couple of tough matches, but the guys responded in amazing fashion and pulled out one of the funnest matches I've ever coached in," said Head Coach Mike Mucci. "Credit to Vanja, Vince and Tom for Winning three consecutive matches to get the come from behind victory to start the year."

MEN'S RESULTS
Jacksonville State 4, Chattanooga 3
D1: Rodriguez/Gatti (UTC) def. A. Vishnevskiy/T. Norwood (JSU) – 6-2
D2: A. Kaplja/J. Vallejo (JSU) def. Hyatt/Labbe (UTC) – 6-3
D3: McClure/Mudre (UTC) def. V. Dobrnjac/D. Inagawa – 6-2
S1: Rodriguez (UTC) def. J. Vallejo – 6-4, 6-3
S2: T. Norwood (JSU) def. Hyatt  (UTC) – 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
S3: V. Dobrnjac (JSU) def. Labbe (UTC) – 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
S4: V. Arbelaez (JSU) def. Gattii (UTC) – 7-6 (5), 7-5
S5: McClure (UTC) def. J. Blanchar (JSU) – 6-4, 6-4
S6: D. Inagawa (JSU) def. Marshall (UTC) – 6-2, 6-2