MT Sweeps Two-Time Defending C-USA Champions in Quarterfinals

Friday, April 20

Houston, Texas

2 PM

Middle Tennessee

7-seed Rice

4/20/2018 5:29:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Blue Raiders advance to tomorrow’s semifinal round

By: @MTAthletics

2-seed MT vs. 7-seed Rice results

HOUSTON– Middle Tennessee entered the Conference USA Championship as the No. 39-ranked team in the country and the No. 2 seed in C-USA, and the Blue Raiders began the tournament with a 4-0 win over Rice.

"Our plan was the same as always, get after it in doubles from the beginning, be energetic, positive and relentless," MT head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "The guys handled a tough, talented Rice team and a great crowd today."

The Blue Raiders started the match against the two-time defending conference champion by winning taking a 1-0 lead into singles by winning the doubles point. Miguel Negre Fernandez and Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore got the match started with a 6-2 score on court two, followed by Jan Porteset and Gian Issa at No. 3 with a 6-4 score. Tom Moonen and Chris Edge had match point at No. 1 leading 5-3 but were unable to finish.

In singles play, Luis Morillo Diaz was first to finish with a score of 6-2, 6-2, and Edge extended the MT lead to three points with a victory at No. 3. Negre finished the match off with a 6-4, 6-1 performance at No. 5 to send the Blue Raiders into the semifinal round.

"A lot of credit goes to Chris Edge for leading the charge in singles," Borendame added. "He played like a senior today. FAU is a very tough team, and we're looking forward to the match tomorrow."

MT will meet 3-seed FAU in the C-USA Championship Semifinals at noon on Saturday. The Owls won over 6-seed UTSA on Friday by a score of 4-2 to advance. FAU has now won six matches in a row following a March 18 loss at the hands of the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro.

In last month's matchup, the Blue Raiders won the doubles point and picked up wins from Chris Edge, Gian Issa and Luis Morillo Diaz to close out the 4-1 victory. FAU's Remi Chancerel and Gabriel Sidney are currently the No. 66-ranked doubles pair in the country according to the ITA with a record of 12-6, all at the No. 1 spot. Sidney and Thomas Bugeaud lead their team in dual match singles wins at 15 and 14 in the regular season, respectively.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter, @MT_MensTennis, and Facebook, MTSU Men's Tennis, as they progress in the postseason.

The winner of the MT vs. FAU match will take on the winner of the 1-seed ODU vs. 4-seed Southern Miss matchup in the C-USA Championship Finals on Sunday at 11 a.m.