Blue Raiders Come From Behind to Defeat ETSU 4-3 in Dramatic Fashion

Friday, March 15

Murfreesboro, TN

5 PM

Middle Tennessee

ETSU

3/15/2019 8:38:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Blue Raiders pull off the come-from-behind win as Max Rauch plays hero, winning 4-3 in dramatic fashion over in-state foe ETSU on Friday night.

Max Rauch was down 2-1 in the third set on court four, while Tom Moonen was trying to win in straight sets on court three. Moonen did just that, defeating the Buccaneers Juan Lugo 7-6, 6-3 to knot the match up at three-all, putting it all on the shoulders of Rauch.

By the time Moonen set things up for a winner-take-all battle between Rauch and ETSU's David Gonzalez, Rauch had climbed out of the 2-1 hole he was in to put himself in the driver's seat with a 5-4 advantage. It was Rauch's serve. He adjusted his cap, bounced the ball three times and let it rip.

The entire Blue Raider men's tennis squad stood by Rauch's side, eyes wide open with their breaths held. The serve proved to be the most important one of the night, as it landed inbounds and was out of the reach of Gonzalez. Rauch pumped his fists and the entire team mobbed the junior at center court. The Heidelberg, Germany, native snapped his team's three-match losing streak by preserving a 4-3 come-from-behind victory.

BOOM BABY💥💣

That's all she wrote!

Max Rauch wins it in the third set 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to complete the comeback! 🐴⚡🎾#BlueRaiders #OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/47k7WutxXM
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) March 16, 2019

"It's an amazing feeling to clinch a match," Rauch said with a smile on his face. "That third set was really close. He was tough (to beat) and I'm really happy I won."

After facing three straight ranked opponents, the Blue Raiders win over their in-state foe gave them their ninth overall win on the year.

Middle Tennessee got off to a fast start, winning the doubles point 2-0 with wins coming from the duos of Gonzalo Morell and Pavel Motl, and Tom Moonen and Chris Edge. Currently ranked as the No. 63 best doubles tandem in the country, Moonen and Edge's 6-3 win moved their impressive record to 17-6 and was their third straight win in doubles play.

In singles play, Pavel Motl also collected a victory, winning in straight sets in what was the evening's first singles match that was completed. Motl's 6-3, 6-3 win gave him his 18th singles win of the season, tying him for the team lead with Max Rauch.

Singles competition
1. Frazier Rengifo (ETSUM) def. Stijn Slump (MT) 6-1, 7-6
2. Sergi Fontcuberta (ETSUM) def. Gonzalo Morell (MT) 6-3, 7-5
3. Tom Moonen (MT) def. Juan Lugo (ETSUM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
4. Max Rauch (MT) def. David Gonzalez (ETSUM) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
5. Miguel Este (ETSUM) def. Chris Edge (MT) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
6. Pavel Motl (MT) def. Taisei Miyamoto (ETSUM) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #63 Chris Edge/Tom Moonen (MT) def. Juan Lugo/Chris Mikrovas (ETSUM) 6-3
2. Max Rauch/Francisco Rocha (MT) vs. Frazier Rengifo/Yusuf Khamis (ETSUM) 5-5, unfinished
3. Gonzalo Morell/Pavel Motl (MT) def. Sergi Fontcuberta/David Gonzalez (ETSUM) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (6,2,1,5,3,4)

Next Up
The Blue Raiders will head to Richmond, Viriginia, next Friday to take on VCU. The match is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start.

Anthony Fiorella is a student writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @a_fiorella74 and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.