Raiders dominate the Hawkeyes to close ITA Kickoff Weekend

Saturday, January 23

Columbus, OH

6:55 PM

Middle Tennessee

Iowa

1/23/2021 10:15:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score Full Results (PDF)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A dominant performance in doubles and three straight-set victories in singles propelled the Middle Tennessee men's tennis team past Iowa, 4-0, on Saturday at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center.

The win earned the Raiders revenge over last year's loss against the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.

"The guys came out strong in doubles tonight," said head coach Jimmy Borendame. "This is a strong win over a team that was top 25 last year, in addition, we lost a close match 2-4 to them in Iowa City. "

MT rolled through doubles play, as the tandems of graduate student Tom Moonen and senior Chris Edge and graduate student Max Rauch and stellar junior Francisco Rocha rolled to 6-3 and 6-2 victories on courts two and three

Holding a 1-0 lead, No. 102 Oskar Michalek doubled the Raiders advantage with a dominant, 6-1, 6-3, win over Matt Clegg at No. 5.

Junior Rocha breezed past Nikita Snezhko, 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 3 position to grow MT's advantage at 3-0. The clinching win on court four by Edge was his 69th of his career (6-1, 6-4).

"This result shows we have improved," Borendame continued. "I am proud of the guys and looking forward to getting back to work on Monday to prepare for a strong Mississippi State team."

UP NEXT
The Blue Raiders return to action on Friday afternoon for an away match with Mississippi State. First serve from the A.J. Pitts Tennis Center is slated for 1 p.m.

Redemption has been paid.

The Blue Raiders bring the broom out and sweep the Hawkeyes.

That closes out the @ITA_Tennis
Kickoff Weekend.

🔵#BlueRaiders⚫️ pic.twitter.com/AdGgFD0Bu4
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) January 24, 2021

RESULTS
Singles
    1. Joe Tyler (IOWA) vs. Tom Moonen (MTSU) 6-7 (4-7), 3-0, unfinished
    2. Will Davies (IOWA) vs. Stijn Slump (MTSU) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
    3. Francisco Rocha (MTSU) def. Nikita Snezhko (IOWA) 6-2, 6-1
    4. Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Jason Kerst (IOWA) 6-1, 6-4
    5. #102 Oskar Michalek (MTSU) def. Matt Clegg (IOWA) 6-1, 6-3
    6. Rudra Dixit (IOWA) vs. Pavel Motl (MTSU) 3-6, 3-5, unfinished

Doubles
    1. #17 Oliver Okonkwo/Will Davies (IOWA) vs. Stijn Slump/Pavel Motl (MTSU) 2-5, unfinished
    2. Tom Moonen/Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Kareem Allaf/Nikita Snezhko (IOWA) 6-3
    3. Max Rauch/Francisco Rocha (MTSU) def. Matt Clegg/Joe Tyler (IOWA) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,3,4)