Blue Raiders fall 4-3 to Bulldogs

Saturday, February 20

Starkville, Miss.

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

2/20/2010 5:03:00 PM | Men's Tennis

By: MT Athletic Communications

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Middle Tennessee battled against the Bulldogs but fell 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. Middle Tennessee began the match by cruising to the doubles point win taking a 1-0 lead in the match. Juniors John Peers and Kyle Wishing defeated George Coupland and Artem Ilyushin 8-1. Then sophomore Matthew Langley and junior Victor Melo gave Middle Tennessee the point with their 8-3 win over Antonio Lastre and Daniel Sanchez. Mississippi State won two matches to begin singles play. Cowden fell 6-4, 6-1 to Ilyushin while No. 122 Lastre defeated McCann 6-2, 6-4 as the Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead. Langley fell 7-5, 6-2 to Sanchez as MSU pulled ahead in the match 3-1. Peers defeated No. 85 Coupland in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, to keep the Blue Raiders alive and make it a one-point match, 3-2. The Bulldogs clinched the win as No. 64 Louis Cant defeated Melo in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. Freshman Shaun Waters rounded out play with a 7-5 win over Max Gregor Smith. Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Tuesday, Feb. 23 when it plays matches with Brown and Tennessee Tech.