Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Pair of freshmen earn All-Conference
5/2/2016 1:10:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Morell and Zatar honored by C-USA
MUFREESBORO, Tenn. – Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore and Ayed Zatar Cordero completed their first year at Middle Tennessee by earning All-Conference USA honors, the league announced Monday.
Morell won All-Conference USA First Team Singles, while Zatar took home All-Conference USA Second Team Singles. The combo earned All-Conference USA First Team Doubles.
Morell spent the majority of his freshman season at the top spot in the lineup, winning eight matches and losing just four at No. 1, while going 9-2 at No. 2. He took his first dual match win as a Blue Raider in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2 over Chattanooga. Morell went on a nine match win streak from Jan. 28 to Feb. 20, and took the win over No. 73 Iowa in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, on Feb. 14.
In an ESPN3 broadcasted match, Morell finished off the match vs. Miami (FL)—ranked No. 74 at the time—with a win in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6. He also clinched the MT victory over Charlotte in the first round of the C-USA Championship with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 win at the top spot in the lineup.
"Gonzalo has done a great job this season. His game has developed quite a bit since getting here," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "He's on top of everything and really the ideal guy to have."
Zatar led the Blue Raiders in 2016 with 18 singles wins compared to eight losses, all while working his way up the lineup from the six spot up to No. 2 for MT. The Asuncion, Paraguay native had a record of 5-2 at No. 2 and 8-3 at No. 3. He opened up his freshman spring with four consecutive wins, including a 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 win over Kris Yee from No. 34 Vanderbilt, and had a season-best win streak of six consecutive wins from Feb. 3 to Feb. 20
The freshman came through in big matches, as he took the win over No. 73 Iowa, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to help the Blue Raiders pull off the upset and dominated No. 41 Memphis, 6-1, 6-2. He won over Old Dominion in the season finale, 7-6, 4-6, 1-0(6), as well as the semifinals of the C-USA Championship by a score of 6-1, 6-3.
"Ayed is a wild card. From the first day of practice to the last day of season, I've had high expectations for him and he's really come along and done a good job," Borendame added. "The sky is the limit for him. He's got a lot of upside."
As a pair, they spent most of their time at the No. 1 doubles position. They earned a ranking of No. 51 in doubles by the ITA on March 8, and had a record of 14-7 overall, with 13 of those wins coming at No. 1.
Against Penn, the combo won over the No. 88 ranked doubles team in the country, 6-4, to start a season-best win streak of six matches. The combo helped the Blue Raiders start off the match with the doubles point against Iowa, winning at No. 1, 7-5. They performed their best on the big stage, as they clinched the doubles point over Charlotte in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Championship with a 6-1 win at the top spot in the doubles lineup.
"I put them together a couple times in the fall and I liked what I saw," Borendame said of his No. 1 doubles team. "They're roommates and close friends. Their style of play compliments each other very well. The NCAA Tournament is definitely realistic for these guys."
After leading Borendame's squad to a 17-10 mark in the 2016 campaign, the pair of freshmen have plans this summer to improve their game and prepare for next season.
"Ayed will once again represent Paraguay in the Davis Cup, and Gonzalo will practice in Spain with David Ferrer and other pros as well as playing in major events," Borendame added. "These guys will make another big jump this summer, and I hope they stay healthy and keep grinding."
All-Conference USA Singles
First Team
Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Tommy Bennett, Rice
Adam Gustafsson, Rice
Jordi Massalle Ferrer, Charlotte
Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore, Middle Tennessee
Mitchell Martell, UAB
Second Team
Ayed Zatar Cordero, Middle Tennessee
Jamie Malik, Rice
Michael Weindl, Old Dominion
Aziz Kijametovic, Old Dominion
Remi Chancerel, Florida Atlantic
Jake Hansen, Rice
David Warren, Rice
Eric Komati, UAB
All-Conference USA Doubles
First Team
No. 29 Tommy Bennett/David Warren, Rice
No. 66 Adam Moundir/Aziz Kijametovic, Old Dominion
Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore, Middle Tennessee
Second Team
Adam Gustafsson/Jamie Malik, Rice
Luiz Felipe Pinto/Christian Coetzee, UAB
Vikram Hundal/Jordi Massalle Ferrer, Charlotte
Superlative Awards
Player of the Year: Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Freshman of the Year: Jake Hansen, Rice
Newcomer of the Year: Jacob Nicolussi, Old Dominion
Singles Player of the Championship: Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Doubles Team of the Championship: Adam Gustafsson/Jamie Malik, Rice
Coach of the Year: Efe Ustundag, Rice
Morell won All-Conference USA First Team Singles, while Zatar took home All-Conference USA Second Team Singles. The combo earned All-Conference USA First Team Doubles.
Morell spent the majority of his freshman season at the top spot in the lineup, winning eight matches and losing just four at No. 1, while going 9-2 at No. 2. He took his first dual match win as a Blue Raider in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2 over Chattanooga. Morell went on a nine match win streak from Jan. 28 to Feb. 20, and took the win over No. 73 Iowa in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, on Feb. 14.
In an ESPN3 broadcasted match, Morell finished off the match vs. Miami (FL)—ranked No. 74 at the time—with a win in three sets, 1-6, 6-1, 7-6. He also clinched the MT victory over Charlotte in the first round of the C-USA Championship with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 win at the top spot in the lineup.
"Gonzalo has done a great job this season. His game has developed quite a bit since getting here," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "He's on top of everything and really the ideal guy to have."
Zatar led the Blue Raiders in 2016 with 18 singles wins compared to eight losses, all while working his way up the lineup from the six spot up to No. 2 for MT. The Asuncion, Paraguay native had a record of 5-2 at No. 2 and 8-3 at No. 3. He opened up his freshman spring with four consecutive wins, including a 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 win over Kris Yee from No. 34 Vanderbilt, and had a season-best win streak of six consecutive wins from Feb. 3 to Feb. 20
The freshman came through in big matches, as he took the win over No. 73 Iowa, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to help the Blue Raiders pull off the upset and dominated No. 41 Memphis, 6-1, 6-2. He won over Old Dominion in the season finale, 7-6, 4-6, 1-0(6), as well as the semifinals of the C-USA Championship by a score of 6-1, 6-3.
"Ayed is a wild card. From the first day of practice to the last day of season, I've had high expectations for him and he's really come along and done a good job," Borendame added. "The sky is the limit for him. He's got a lot of upside."
As a pair, they spent most of their time at the No. 1 doubles position. They earned a ranking of No. 51 in doubles by the ITA on March 8, and had a record of 14-7 overall, with 13 of those wins coming at No. 1.
Against Penn, the combo won over the No. 88 ranked doubles team in the country, 6-4, to start a season-best win streak of six matches. The combo helped the Blue Raiders start off the match with the doubles point against Iowa, winning at No. 1, 7-5. They performed their best on the big stage, as they clinched the doubles point over Charlotte in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Championship with a 6-1 win at the top spot in the doubles lineup.
"I put them together a couple times in the fall and I liked what I saw," Borendame said of his No. 1 doubles team. "They're roommates and close friends. Their style of play compliments each other very well. The NCAA Tournament is definitely realistic for these guys."
After leading Borendame's squad to a 17-10 mark in the 2016 campaign, the pair of freshmen have plans this summer to improve their game and prepare for next season.
"Ayed will once again represent Paraguay in the Davis Cup, and Gonzalo will practice in Spain with David Ferrer and other pros as well as playing in major events," Borendame added. "These guys will make another big jump this summer, and I hope they stay healthy and keep grinding."
All-Conference USA Singles
First Team
Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Tommy Bennett, Rice
Adam Gustafsson, Rice
Jordi Massalle Ferrer, Charlotte
Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore, Middle Tennessee
Mitchell Martell, UAB
Second Team
Ayed Zatar Cordero, Middle Tennessee
Jamie Malik, Rice
Michael Weindl, Old Dominion
Aziz Kijametovic, Old Dominion
Remi Chancerel, Florida Atlantic
Jake Hansen, Rice
David Warren, Rice
Eric Komati, UAB
All-Conference USA Doubles
First Team
No. 29 Tommy Bennett/David Warren, Rice
No. 66 Adam Moundir/Aziz Kijametovic, Old Dominion
Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore, Middle Tennessee
Second Team
Adam Gustafsson/Jamie Malik, Rice
Luiz Felipe Pinto/Christian Coetzee, UAB
Vikram Hundal/Jordi Massalle Ferrer, Charlotte
Superlative Awards
Player of the Year: Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Freshman of the Year: Jake Hansen, Rice
Newcomer of the Year: Jacob Nicolussi, Old Dominion
Singles Player of the Championship: Adam Moundir, Old Dominion
Doubles Team of the Championship: Adam Gustafsson/Jamie Malik, Rice
Coach of the Year: Efe Ustundag, Rice
Players Mentioned
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