MONROE, La. - Middle Tennessee fell 4-1 to South Alabama in the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders lost the doubles point to begin the match. Freshmen
John Peers and
Alex McCann fell to Robert Hodel and Marek Sramek 8-1. Then the Jags clinched the point as Jack Baker and R.J. Nagel defeated junior
Morgan Richard and sophomore
Marc Rocafort 8-4.
Sophomore
Joao Paoliello and freshman
Kyle Wishing were leading 6-3 over Aaron Krisan and Michael O'Brien in their doubles match but since the point had been clinched it was called.
In singles play, freshman
Chris Nowak trailed Nagel 5-1 when he had to retire which allowed South Alabama to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
McCann defeated O'Brien making it 2-1 as he won in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.
This would be the only win for the Blue Raiders as Peers and Richard each lost their matches. Peers and Richard both lost 6-2, 6-2 to Hodel and Sramek respectively.
Middle Tennessee will play for third place in the Sun Belt Conference Championships as it faces the loser of Denver vs. FAU at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 20 in the consolation match.
Singles
1. Jack Baker (USA) vs. Marc Rocafort (MT) 6-1, 3-6, unfinished
2. Robert Hodel (USA) def. John Peers (MT) 6-2, 6-2
3. Marek Sramek (USA) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 6-2, 6-2
4. R.J. Nagel (USA) def. Chris Nowak (MT) 5-1, retired
5. Aaron Krisan (USA) vs. Joao Paoliello (MT) 4-6, 2-3, unfinished
6. Alex McCann (MT) def. Michael O'Brien (USA) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1. Jack Baker/R.J. Nagel (USA) def. Morgan Richard/Marc Rocafort (MT) 8-4
2. Robert Hodel/Marek Sramek (USA) def. John Peers/Alex McCann (MT) 8-1
3. Aaron Krisan/Michael O'Brien (USA) vs. Joao Paoliello/Kyle Wishing (MT) 3-6, unfinished
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 9-13; National ranking #71
University of South Alabama 13-8; National ranking #60
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,6,2,3)
