Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, March 19
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
2 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
5
vs
2
Charleston
Raiders down Cougars on International Day
3/19/2016 5:22:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MT defeats College of Charleston, 5-2
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee fans celebrated the international players on the men's tennis team on Saturday, but they also celebrated a Blue Raider victory.
It was a windy day at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center, but that didn't stop MT from getting the win over College of Charleston, 5-2.
"College of Charleston was very competitive today," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "Our guys were able to handle the wind pretty well today even though it got sticky there for a little bit."
The doubles point came down to court three, but the Blue Raiders pulled off the win and earned an early lead in the match. Gian Issa and Miguel Negre Fernandez cruised to a 6-2 win at the No. 2 doubles spot.
After the Cougars took the match on court one, all eyes were on the No. 3 doubles team of Luis Morillo Diaz and Dima Zyhmantovich. The pair came from behind to tie the match then got a break point to go up by a game. Morillo's serve closed out the match to win at No. 3 doubles, 7-5.
The Cougars knotted the match up at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3. Zyhmantovich looked strong in his 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 to put the Blue Raiders back out in front. Issa followed on court six with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory.
College of Charleston found itself down 4-0 on court five in the second set, but was able to come away with the win, 6-4, 7-5.
Morell was locked in a tight match the entire afternoon, but dominated the second set tiebreak en route to a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) win at the top spot in the lineup and clinch the match for the Blue Raiders.
"Gonzalo is so tough," Borendame said of the freshman. "He got down 5-1, but he just hung around. He's a nasty competitor and I was glad he was able to get the win."
Negre closed out the MT win with a three-set thriller. The sophomore dropped his first set by a narrow margin, but came back to win his second and third sets to make his score, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
"International Day was great," Borendame added. "I want to thank Dr. David Schmidt for sponsoring International Day. We wished it was a little warmer, but we do thank our fans for coming out."
MT will host the MT Shootout at Buck Bouldin Tennis Center on March 25-27, which will include the Blue Raiders, UAB, South Alabama and Georgia State. Middle will play at 2 p.m. every day in the upcoming weekend.
Col. of Charleston vs Middle Tennessee
3/19/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#54 Middle Tennessee 5, Col. of Charleston 2
Singles competition
1. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Juan Estevarena (COFCM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Zack Lewis (COFCM) 6-3, 6-3
3. Rodrigo Encinas (COFCM) def. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) 6-3, 6-2
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Charlie Ghriskey (COFCM) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
5. Vasily Kichigin (COFCM) def. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) 6-4, 7-5
6. Gian Issa (MT) def. Ryan Khan (COFCM) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Juan Estevarena/Rodrigo Encinas (COFCM) def. #51 Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) 6-4
2. Gian Issa/Miguel Negre (MT) def. Zack Lewis/Charlie Ghriskey (COFCM) 6-2
3. Luis Morillo Diaz/Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Josh Record/Vasily Kichigin (COFCM) 7-5
Match Notes:
Col. of Charleston 9-5
Middle Tennessee 13-3; National ranking #54
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,2,6,5,1,4)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:55 A-68
It was a windy day at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center, but that didn't stop MT from getting the win over College of Charleston, 5-2.
"College of Charleston was very competitive today," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "Our guys were able to handle the wind pretty well today even though it got sticky there for a little bit."
The doubles point came down to court three, but the Blue Raiders pulled off the win and earned an early lead in the match. Gian Issa and Miguel Negre Fernandez cruised to a 6-2 win at the No. 2 doubles spot.
After the Cougars took the match on court one, all eyes were on the No. 3 doubles team of Luis Morillo Diaz and Dima Zyhmantovich. The pair came from behind to tie the match then got a break point to go up by a game. Morillo's serve closed out the match to win at No. 3 doubles, 7-5.
The Cougars knotted the match up at 1-1 with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 3. Zyhmantovich looked strong in his 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 2 to put the Blue Raiders back out in front. Issa followed on court six with a dominant 6-4, 6-1 victory.
College of Charleston found itself down 4-0 on court five in the second set, but was able to come away with the win, 6-4, 7-5.
Morell was locked in a tight match the entire afternoon, but dominated the second set tiebreak en route to a 7-5, 7-6 (7-1) win at the top spot in the lineup and clinch the match for the Blue Raiders.
"Gonzalo is so tough," Borendame said of the freshman. "He got down 5-1, but he just hung around. He's a nasty competitor and I was glad he was able to get the win."
Negre closed out the MT win with a three-set thriller. The sophomore dropped his first set by a narrow margin, but came back to win his second and third sets to make his score, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
"International Day was great," Borendame added. "I want to thank Dr. David Schmidt for sponsoring International Day. We wished it was a little warmer, but we do thank our fans for coming out."
MT will host the MT Shootout at Buck Bouldin Tennis Center on March 25-27, which will include the Blue Raiders, UAB, South Alabama and Georgia State. Middle will play at 2 p.m. every day in the upcoming weekend.
Col. of Charleston vs Middle Tennessee
3/19/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
#54 Middle Tennessee 5, Col. of Charleston 2
Singles competition
1. Gonzalo Morell (MT) def. Juan Estevarena (COFCM) 7-5, 7-6 (7-1)
2. Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Zack Lewis (COFCM) 6-3, 6-3
3. Rodrigo Encinas (COFCM) def. Ayed Zatar Cordero (MT) 6-3, 6-2
4. Miguel Negre (MT) def. Charlie Ghriskey (COFCM) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
5. Vasily Kichigin (COFCM) def. Luis Morillo Diaz (MT) 6-4, 7-5
6. Gian Issa (MT) def. Ryan Khan (COFCM) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Juan Estevarena/Rodrigo Encinas (COFCM) def. #51 Ayed Zatar Cordero/Gonzalo Morell (MT) 6-4
2. Gian Issa/Miguel Negre (MT) def. Zack Lewis/Charlie Ghriskey (COFCM) 6-2
3. Luis Morillo Diaz/Dima Zyhmantovich (MT) def. Josh Record/Vasily Kichigin (COFCM) 7-5
Match Notes:
Col. of Charleston 9-5
Middle Tennessee 13-3; National ranking #54
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,2,6,5,1,4)
Official: Ted Mason T-2:55 A-68
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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