Men's Tennis Hosts Final Two Home Matches

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Seniors Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom will play the final two home matches of their career Saturday, as 44th-ranked Middle Tennessee hosts Memphis and Belmont. Because of the forecasted inclement weather, the two matches are now scheduled indoors at the Racquet Club of Murfreesboro. The Blue Raiders take on Memphis at 11 a.m. and Belmont at 6 p.m. Middle Tennessee has not played a home match since February 25, a span of 47 days. The Blue Raiders (11-11) have won their last two outings, winning at South Florida, 5-2, on March 31 and defeating Troy, 5-0, last weekend in Lafayette, La., in the Sun Belt Shootout. The finals of the Sun Belt Shootout were cancelled because of inclement weather. Born and Siljestrom have both rewritten the Middle Tennessee record books. Siljestrom is tied for sixth in career singles wins (80) with Julius Robberts (1995-98) and is within reach of both Robert Gustafsson (83, 1999-02) and current assistant coach David McNamara (85, 1995-98). In doubles Siljestrom ranks second with 106 victories, just six behind all-time leader Fred Niemeyer (1994-97). Siljestrom is also second in combined career wins with 186, behind only Niemeyer (233). Born ranks 10th in career singles victories with 65, three behind Kirk Jackson (68, 2001-04) and six behind Marshall Brown (71, 1995-98). He is fourth on the career doubles wins list with 88, behind McNamara (94) and Robberts (95), and ranks sixth all-time in combined career wins with 153. Born and Siljestrom are also chasing single-season doubles records. Born is 29-6 this academic year in doubles, tied for seventh on the single-season list, while Siljestrom is 28-7 in doubles this year, tied for 11th for a single-season. Freshman Marc Rocafort has also put his name near the top of the freshman records. Rocafort is 24-12 in singles this year, ranking third all-time in freshman singles victories, behind only Michael Staniak (27, 2001) and Daniel Klemetz (29, 2000). Rocafort's 16- doubles triumphs is also tied for eighth with Staniak and Medhi Belbecha (1999). Rocafort's 24 singles wins is tied for the team lead this academic year with sophomore Morgan Richard, who sports a 24-10 mark. Middle Tennessee has won three in a row in the series against Memphis, who is coached by former Blue Raider All-American Paul Goebel. The two clubs have played in five of the last seven seasons, with Middle Tennessee's only setback in 2003. The Blue Raiders are 7-0 all-time against Belmont, who is coached by former Middle Tennessee player Jim Madrigal. The Blue Raiders and Bruins have met in five of the last eight seasons.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marco Born

Morgan Richard

Marc Rocafort

Andreas Siljestrom

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics