Blue Raiders fall in nail-biter to Mississippi State

Friday, January 29

Starkville, MS

1 PM

Middle Tennessee

Mississippi State

1/29/2021 4:59:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Middle Tennessee men's tennis team fought back-and-forth with the Mississippi State Bulldogs Friday at the Rula Tennis Pavilion, but ultimately fell 4-3.

After Middle Tennessee jumped out to a 2-1 lead, Mississippi State fought back to tie it at 2-2 before the Blue Raiders and Bulldogs swapped points to remain tied at 3-3 with just one court left in play.

Graduate student Tom Moonen on court one was the lone Raider left in action and battled to the wire with No. 36-ranked Giovanni Oradini but loss 7-6, 7-6 in the second set tiebreaker (7-3).

"The guys fought well and this is a tough Mississippi State team," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "I'm proud of the guys and we will go back to getting better tomorrow to prepare for Sunday."

For the second match in-a-row MT started fast by winning the doubles point and taking a 1-0 lead into singles. Max Rauch and Francisco Rocha paired up once again on court three and were the first doubles pair done Friday as they coasted to a dominate 6-0 win over MSU's Malesevic and Oradini.

On two, Chris Edge and Tom Moonen faced off against MSU's No. 47-ranked Colas and Ramskogler. The Bulldogs won 6-2.

The strong pairing of Pavel Motl and Stijn Slump on court one upset the No. 28-ranked Broska and Ocana as they clinched the doubles point for MT 6-3.

Edge was the first Blue Raider off the court in singles as he defeated Nemanja Malesevic 6-4, 6-2 on court four. The senior is now 3-1 on the season.

After MSU tied it up 2-2 in the match, the Bulldogs upped the lead to 3-2 with a win on courts two. Rocha was defeated by MSU's No. 87-ranked Broska in two sets 6-4, 6-2.

On court six, Motl responded for the Blue Raiders with a three-set win over Ramskogler 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 to send the match to Moonen on one.

Moonen fought back on court one, with the Bulldogs' No. 36-ranked Oradini but was defeated 7-6, 7-6.

UP NEXT

The Blue Raiders will return home to Murfreesboro to host a doubleheader with Austin Peay and Alabama A&M Sunday Jan. 31 at noon. The match will be played indoors at the Adams Tennis Complex.

Singles competition
1. #36 Giovanni Oradini (MS) def. Tom Moonen (MTSU) 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3)
2. #87 Florian Broska (MS) def. Francisco Rocha (MTSU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Alberto Colas (MS) def. Stijn Slump (MTSU) 6-3, 6-1
4. Chris Edge (MTSU) def. Nemanja Malesevic (MS) 6-4, 6-2
5. Carles Hernandez (MS) def. Sean Presson (MTSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Pavel Motl (MTSU) def. Gregor Ramskogler (MS) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Pavel Motl/Stijn Slump (MTSU) def. #28 Florian Broska/Nicolas Ocana (MS) 6-3
2. #47 Alberto Colas/Gregor Ramskogler (MS) def. Chris Edge/Tom Moonen (MTSU) 6-2
3. Max Rauch/Francisco Rocha (MTSU) def. Nemanja Malesevic/Giovanni Oradini (MS) 6-0

Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 2-2
Mississippi State 4-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,4,5,2,6,1)