Moonen seals comeback win over Wisconsin

Sunday, February 25

Murfreesboro, Tenn. - Adams Tennis Complex

10 AM

Middle Tennessee

Wisconsin

2/25/2018 1:42:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Raiders improve to 10-2 with win on Sunday

By: @MTAthletics

Results
Season Statistics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A five-minute swing in singles play lifted Middle Tennessee (10-2) from down 0-2 to a 3-2 lead, and Tom Moonen clinched the Blue Raiders' win over Wisconsin (5-6) on Sunday.

The Badgers struck first by winning in doubles on courts one and three. Miguel Negre Fernandez and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore were unable to finish their match at No. 2, tied 4-4.

"They brought a lot of team energy," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "I just let our guys know that this team isn't going to go away. We are a great team and a great unit as well, and we need to be supportive. We supported and we took advantage of a great crowd. I'm proud of this team."

In singles play, Wisconsin jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the match as Daniel Soyfer remained unbeaten in the spring season by winning on court three. Less than five minutes later, the Blue Raiders took a 3-2 lead over the Badgers with the help of Chris Edge, Luis Morillo Diaz and Gian Issa, who took his spring record to 12-0.

"We've been solid in pretty much every spot, so when we got down early I didn't get too fazed," Borendame said. "I don't get rattled at all, I just focus on my courts, and I know Coach John [Kreis] and Coach Seb [Rey] are doing what they need to do on the other side."

After the Badgers knotted the match at 3-3 by winning in straight sets at the top of the lineup, all eyes were on sophomore Tom Moonen. The Rotterdam, Netherlands, native pulled through in the clutch with a 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 7-5 score and clinched the 4-3 MT win over Wisconsin.

"I knew I was right there, but he wasn't giving me a lot of looks on the returns, so we decided to mix some things up, take some shots, and go for some chances," Moonen said of his third set. "Wisconsin did a really good job throughout the whole match to give constant energy, and that's why it was such a good battle, but our guys did a good job of being loud."

Next up will be a rematch of last season's Conference USA Tournament semifinals, as the Blue Raiders travel to Houston to take on defending conference champion Rice on Feb. 28 before returning to the Adams Tennis Complex on March 2 against Tulane.