Men’s tennis shuts out Mocs

Saturday, January 16

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

12 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Chattanooga

1/16/2016 2:55:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Blue Raiders dominant in season opener

By: Matt Posey, @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – There were many close first sets in the Middle Tennessee men's tennis match vs. Chattanooga, but the Blue Raiders showed their dominance late in the match.

Doubles action began with a 6-0 Chattanooga victory at the No. 1 spot. Miguel Negre Fernandez and Gian Issa teamed up to reel off six consecutive games won after giving up the first game at No. 2 doubles.

Delivering the doubles clinching point was the No. 3 doubles combo of Ayed Zatar Cordero and Robin Riethmueller. The pair was in mid-season form with a 6-1 victory over the Mocs.

Singles play provided lots of excitement in the first set of almost every match. The bottom of the lineup was dominated by the Blue Raiders, as Zatar Cordero earned his first spring win at MT with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Negre Fernandez followed that up with a 6-2, 6-4 win of his own.

The Blue Raiders clinched the match thanks to a 6-4, 6-0 win by Riethmueller. Riethmueller went back and forth with his opponent in the first set, but cruised through the second to complete the win.

Also getting his first spring win as a Blue Raider was Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore at the No. 2 spot with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Issa was in a dogfight throughout the match, but came away with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 4. Phenomenal crowd support backed Issa in the second set.

However, all eyes were on Dima Zyhmantovich to close out his second set at the end. After winning his first set 6-4, Zyhmantovich had to come back from behind to send the second set into a tiebreak. He won the tiebreak 7-5 after being down 4-1 earlier.

The Blue Raiders were able to sweep Chattanooga 7-0 to begin the 2016 season. They now turn their focus to the No. 25 ITA ranked Vanderbilt Commodores on Monday, Jan. 18.
Free T-shirts and popcorn will be provided at the match, which will be held at the Adams Tennis Complex at 2 p.m.

The team is on Twitter @MT_MensTennis, where updates on promotions and matches will be posted throughout the season.

Chattanooga vs Middle Tennessee
1/16/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 7, Chattanooga 0

Singles competition
1. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Lucas Plesky (UTC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. John Peacey (UTC) 6-4, 6-2
3. Robin Riethmueller (MT) def. Nick Wingord (UTC) 6-4, 6-0
4. Gian Issa (MT) def. Luke Saunders (UTC) 7-5, 6-4
5. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Pablo Llebeili (UTC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Paul LaHue (UTC) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. John Peacey/Pablo Llebeili (UTC) def. Dima Zyhmantovich/Gonzalo Morell (MT) 6-0
2. Miguel Negre/Gian Issa (MT) def. Nick Wingord/Lucas Plesky (UTC) 6-1
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero/Robin Riethmueller (MT) def. Luke Saunders/Michael Birnbaum (UTC) 6-1

Match Notes:
Chattanooga 0-1
Middle Tennessee 1-0
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (6,5,3,2,4,1)
Official: Ted Mason A-116