MT edges VCU and William & Mary, 4-3

Friday, April 7

Richmond, Va.

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

VCU

4/8/2017 6:48:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Rauch and Morillo clinch MT victories

By: @MTAthletics

MT at VCU Box Score
MT at William & Mary Box Score
Season Statistics

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – In the final road swing of the season, Middle Tennessee men's tennis triumphed over VCU, 4-3, and took down William & Mary by a score of 4-3.

VCU entered play on Friday winning all six previous meetings against the Blue Raiders, but MT had plans to spoil the streak in Richmond.

After the Rams took the doubles point and went into singles play with a 1-0 advantage, Tom Moonen quickly won at No. 1, 6-4, 6-3, to tie the match at one point apiece. VCU got back on top, 3-1, by winning matches at No. 3 and 4, but Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore came back after dropping his first set to win a tight match in three sets on court two.

Gian Issa cruised through his match at No. 5, 6-1, 6-2, to tie the match at 3-3. Finally, in three sets at No. 6, Max Rauch clinched the win over the Rams by taking his match, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, to give MT its 10th win of the season and first all-time against VCU.

On Saturday against William & Mary, the Blue Raiders took a 1-0 lead into singles play with Moonen and Morell winning, 6-3, at No. 1 doubles, followed by Nicolas Buitrago Machado and Rauch at No. 2, winning 7-5.

The Tribe notched two singles victories at the top of the order out of the gate to put the Blue Raiders behind. Issa won a straight-set match at No. 4, and Miguel Negre Fernandez followed at No. 3 to win in three sets and give MT a 3-2 advantage.

After William & Mary struck back with a straight-set win at No. 6, last week's Conference USA Player of the Week Luis Morillo Diaz won his match at No. 5 by a score of 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, to complete the 4-3 win. MT improved its record to 11-12, including four consecutive wins.

The final tune-up before the C-USA Championship at the Adams Tennis Complex will be April 12 at home against East Tennessee State at 2 p.m. C-USA tournament action will begin April 21 at 10 a.m. and run through the championship match on April 23.