Louisville, Ky. - Freshman
John Peers defeated a Top-50 opponent but the Blue Raiders fell to Louisville 5-2.
Peers defeated No. 36 Austen Childs 6-3, 6-7 (13), 10-7 in No. 1 singles as he was the last Middle Tennessee (4-5) player to finish his match.
"I am very pleased with Peers' win at No. 1 tonight. He stepped it up and played very well tonight," head coach David McNamara said.
Louisville (7-1) began the match by winning the doubles point as it took two of three matches. Sophomore
Joao Paoliello and freshman
Chris Nowak fell to Robert Rotaru and Pablo Camacho 8-3. Then sophomore
Marc Rocafort and Peers fell to Childs and Simon Childs in No. 2 doubles which clinched the match for the Cardinals.
Junior
Morgan Richard and freshman
Richard Cowden won their doubles match 8-4 over David Simon and Kenneth Nordheim.
In singles action, Nowak fell to Rotaru 6-3, 6-1 while Rocafort defeated Simon 6-4, 6-2 in No. 2 singles.
"Rocafort has a win and is turning around his season and play with this match," McNamara said.
Richard fell to Simon Childs in No. 4 singles 6-4, 6-4 and Paoliello lost his match with Aljeandro Calligari 7-6, 6-2.
Cowden fell to Maksimcuk 6-4, 7-6 (4) in No. 3 singles and Peers rounded out play with his win.
"This was a tough loss. We are working hard and giving 100 percent. We are just not executing and there are individual things we need to work on. It is still a long season and we have plenty of time to have a successful season.
The Blue Raiders will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 15 when they face Indiana at 2 p.m. in Bloomington, Ind.
Singles
1. John Peers (MT) def. #36 Austen Childs (LOU) 6-3, 6-7 (0-13), 10-7
2. Marc Rocafort (MT) def. David Simon (LOU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Viktor Maksimcuk (LOU) def. Richard Cowden (MT) 6-4, 7-6 (4-0)
4. Simon Childs (LOU) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 6-4, 6-4
5. Alejandro Calligari (LOU) def. Joao Paoliello (MT) 7-6, 6-2
6. Robert Rotaru (LOU) def. Chris Nowak (MT) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
1. Austen Childs/Simon Childs (LOU) def. John Peers/Marc Rocafort (MT) 8-4
2. Richard Cowden/Morgan Richard (MT) def. David Simon/Kenneth Nordheim (LOU) 8-5
3. Robert Rotaru/Pablo Camacho (LOU) def. Joao Paoliello/Chris Nowak (MT) 8-3
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 4-5
Louisville 7-1
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,4,5,3,1)
