Raiders blank Charlotte to open C-USA Championship

Friday, April 21

Murfreesboro, Tenn. - Adams Tennis Complex

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

Charlotte

4/21/2017 5:22:00 PM | Men's Tennis

MT plays at 2 p.m. Saturday

By: @MTAthletics

MT vs. Charlotte PDF Box
Championship Central

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In the second matchup against Charlotte this season, Middle Tennessee men's tennis once again took down the 49ers, this time by a score of 4-0 in the Conference USA Championship quarterfinals.

Miguel Negre Fernandez and Gian Issa cruised to a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles to start the match, followed by Max Rauch and Nicolas Buitrago Machado at No. 2, who clinched the doubles point with a 7-6 (7-4) win. The doubles combo of Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore and Tom Moonen were unable to finish their match at No. 1, where they trailed early but had a score of 6-6 (5-1), unfinished.

"When we played them in March, the singles had a couple of three-setters, and we thought we didn't play well last time," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We've hit sort of a hot streak since that C-USA Pod. When you look back at our February, it was ugly, so our team is coming on late at the right time."

In singles play, Rauch quickly reeled off a 6-3, 6-2 win at the bottom of the MT lineup. Negre at No. 3 also showed dominance, as he went on to win the match, 6-3, 6-3.

Moonen clinched the match for the Blue Raiders with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at No. 2, to send the Blue Raiders to the semifinal match Saturday at 2 p.m. against the winner of top-seeded Rice and 8-seed UTSA, the final match on Friday.

"It gets really exciting because Tom and Max are both freshmen," Borendame added. "I'd be shocked if Tom wasn't voted an All-Conference performer in singles and doubles. Max in my opinion may be our best doubles player. They've really settled down and stepped up for us."

The Owls are 20-7 entering the C-USA Championship, including a 3-0 mark against conference foes. The doubles combo of Tommy Bennett and David Warren are ranked No. 50 in the country by the ITA. UTSA traveled to Murfreesboro with a 6-17 record, losing all three matches they played against conference opponents.

"We'd love to get some more people out here. The crowd was okay, but on Saturday, I think we can get more people," Borendame said. "We've talked a lot to the guys about believing they can win."

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter, @MT_MensTennis, and like them on Facebook, MTSU Men's Tennis, for all the updates and information on the C-USA Championship.