Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, February 20
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
1 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
4
vs
3
Illinois State
MT defeats Redbirds and Tigers
2/20/2016 7:58:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Blue Raiders win two more at home
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In their first weekend as a ranked team this season, Middle Tennessee came away with two wins at the Adams Tennis Complex.
MT went toe-to-toe with Illinois State in the first match of a doubleheader on Saturday, winning 4-3.
The Blue Raiders cruised through No. 1 and 2 doubles to take the first point in the match. Ayed Zatar Cordero and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore teamed up to take the match 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. The 2 doubles combo of Gian Issa and Miguel Negre Fernandez won four games in a row to seal their 6-2 win.
"I thought we executed well in doubles against Illinois State," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were a little passive in singles, but it was great to sneak out with a W."
The Redbirds came ready to play in singles, as their No. 6 took a 6-3, 6-2 win put the match even at 1. Zatar was in full control of his match in the first set and continued that momentum to win at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4.
Illinois State's Jakub Eisner took a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 1, which tied the match back up at 2 points apiece. The Blue Raiders bounced back with a 6-1, 6-3 win by Morell at No. 2.
Luis Morillo Diaz clinched the match for MT with his thrilling win in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Negre was also locked in a three set match, but dropped the final set, making his score 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 3-6.
To cap off the doubleheader sweep, MT took down the Sewanee Tigers by a score of 7-0.
Doubles action kicked off the match, with the Blue Raiders taking the doubles point. Jacob Pugh and Morillo got the match started at No. 3 with a 6-3 win. After Sewanee evened up the doubles with a win at No. 1, it came down to a tight match at No. 2. Issa and Negre were able to complete the comeback and take a 7-5 win, giving MT an advantage to start singles.
Negre started singles off for the Blue Raiders by blanking his opponent 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4. Morell continued his dominant weekend with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2. Zatar sealed the win for MT with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3.
Freshman Michael Apple improved his singles record to 3-0 with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 6. Zyhmantovich took a 6-3, 6-1 win over his opponent at the top of the lineup. Morillo completed the sweep of the Tigers with his 6-2, 6-3 win at the No. 5 spot.
"It was great to get Michael and Jacob some matches in the second match," Borendame said. "Those guys are making strides and developing pretty well.
"We're going to turn up the intensity in practice this week," Borendame added. "Outdoor tennis is right around the corner, and it's a lot more physical than indoor tennis."
Next up for the Blue Raiders will be a doubleheader with a ranked Columbia team and Tennessee State on Feb. 27. Action at the Adams Tennis Complex will begin at 1 p.m.
Illinois State vs Middle Tennessee
2/20/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#71 Middle Tennessee 4, Illinois State 3
Singles competition
1. Jakub Eisner (ILS) def. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-2, 6-4
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Urh Krajnc Domiter (ILS) 6-1, 6-3
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Rodrigo Oliveira (ILS) 6-2, 6-4
4. Christoffer Greve (ILS) def. Miguel Negre (MT) 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Andreas Boers (ILS) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Dylan Steffens (ILS) def. Robin Riethmueller (MT) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Andreas Boers/Urh Krajnc Domiter (ILS) 6-2
2. Gian Issa/Miguel Negre (MT) def. Egehan Sertkaya/Jakub Eisner (ILS) 6-2
3. Dima Zyhmantovich/Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) vs. Christoffer Greve/Dylan Steffens (ILS) 4-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Illinois State 4-4
Middle Tennessee 8-2; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,1,2,5,4)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:33 A-173
Sewanee vs Middle Tennessee
2/20/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#71 Middle Tennessee 7, Sewanee 0
Singles competition
1. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Avery Schober (SEWANEE) 6-3, 6-1
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Eric Roddy (SEWANEE) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Jack Gray (SEWANEE) 6-1, 6-2
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Connor Winkler (SEWANEE) 6-0, 6-0
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Scott Gallimore (SEWANEE) 6-2, 6-3
6. Michael Apple (MT) def. Fletcher Kerr (SEWANEE) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Eric Roddy/Jack Gray (SEWANEE) def. Gonzalo Morell/Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) 6-4
2. Miguel Negre/Gian Issa (MT) def. Alex Depascual/Scott Gallimore (SEWANEE) 7-5
3. Jacob Pugh/Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Avery Schober/Fletcher Kerr (SEWANEE) 6-3
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 9-2; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,3,6,1,5)
Official: Ted Mason T-1:54 A-57
MT went toe-to-toe with Illinois State in the first match of a doubleheader on Saturday, winning 4-3.
The Blue Raiders cruised through No. 1 and 2 doubles to take the first point in the match. Ayed Zatar Cordero and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore teamed up to take the match 6-2 at No. 1 doubles. The 2 doubles combo of Gian Issa and Miguel Negre Fernandez won four games in a row to seal their 6-2 win.
"I thought we executed well in doubles against Illinois State," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were a little passive in singles, but it was great to sneak out with a W."
The Redbirds came ready to play in singles, as their No. 6 took a 6-3, 6-2 win put the match even at 1. Zatar was in full control of his match in the first set and continued that momentum to win at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4.
Illinois State's Jakub Eisner took a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 1, which tied the match back up at 2 points apiece. The Blue Raiders bounced back with a 6-1, 6-3 win by Morell at No. 2.
Luis Morillo Diaz clinched the match for MT with his thrilling win in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Negre was also locked in a three set match, but dropped the final set, making his score 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 3-6.
To cap off the doubleheader sweep, MT took down the Sewanee Tigers by a score of 7-0.
Doubles action kicked off the match, with the Blue Raiders taking the doubles point. Jacob Pugh and Morillo got the match started at No. 3 with a 6-3 win. After Sewanee evened up the doubles with a win at No. 1, it came down to a tight match at No. 2. Issa and Negre were able to complete the comeback and take a 7-5 win, giving MT an advantage to start singles.
Negre started singles off for the Blue Raiders by blanking his opponent 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4. Morell continued his dominant weekend with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2. Zatar sealed the win for MT with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3.
Freshman Michael Apple improved his singles record to 3-0 with a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 6. Zyhmantovich took a 6-3, 6-1 win over his opponent at the top of the lineup. Morillo completed the sweep of the Tigers with his 6-2, 6-3 win at the No. 5 spot.
"It was great to get Michael and Jacob some matches in the second match," Borendame said. "Those guys are making strides and developing pretty well.
"We're going to turn up the intensity in practice this week," Borendame added. "Outdoor tennis is right around the corner, and it's a lot more physical than indoor tennis."
Next up for the Blue Raiders will be a doubleheader with a ranked Columbia team and Tennessee State on Feb. 27. Action at the Adams Tennis Complex will begin at 1 p.m.
Illinois State vs Middle Tennessee
2/20/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#71 Middle Tennessee 4, Illinois State 3
Singles competition
1. Jakub Eisner (ILS) def. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) 6-2, 6-4
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Urh Krajnc Domiter (ILS) 6-1, 6-3
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Rodrigo Oliveira (ILS) 6-2, 6-4
4. Christoffer Greve (ILS) def. Miguel Negre (MT) 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Andreas Boers (ILS) 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Dylan Steffens (ILS) def. Robin Riethmueller (MT) 6-3, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Andreas Boers/Urh Krajnc Domiter (ILS) 6-2
2. Gian Issa/Miguel Negre (MT) def. Egehan Sertkaya/Jakub Eisner (ILS) 6-2
3. Dima Zyhmantovich/Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) vs. Christoffer Greve/Dylan Steffens (ILS) 4-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
Illinois State 4-4
Middle Tennessee 8-2; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (6,3,1,2,5,4)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:33 A-173
Sewanee vs Middle Tennessee
2/20/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#71 Middle Tennessee 7, Sewanee 0
Singles competition
1. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Avery Schober (SEWANEE) 6-3, 6-1
2. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Eric Roddy (SEWANEE) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) def. Jack Gray (SEWANEE) 6-1, 6-2
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Connor Winkler (SEWANEE) 6-0, 6-0
5. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Scott Gallimore (SEWANEE) 6-2, 6-3
6. Michael Apple (MT) def. Fletcher Kerr (SEWANEE) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Eric Roddy/Jack Gray (SEWANEE) def. Gonzalo Morell/Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) 6-4
2. Miguel Negre/Gian Issa (MT) def. Alex Depascual/Scott Gallimore (SEWANEE) 7-5
3. Jacob Pugh/Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) def. Avery Schober/Fletcher Kerr (SEWANEE) 6-3
Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 9-2; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (4,2,3,6,1,5)
Official: Ted Mason T-1:54 A-57
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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