Alabama Hands Blue Raiders Heartbreaking Defeat

Friday, March 19

Tuscaloosa, AL

4 PM

Middle Tennessee

Alabama

Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications

3/19/2021 7:53:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In a battle between two top-50 teams, the 35^th-ranked Raiders got off to a good start, but ultimately, it was #31 Alabama who came away with a 4-3 victory.

The Blue Raiders were looking for their third straight win over a power-five team, but instead fall to 11-5, while the Crimson Tide improve to 11-7 on the year.

In doubles action, MTSU took the early lead as they took two of the three matches. Chris Edge and Tom Moonen cruised to a 6-2 victory while Stijn Slump and Pavel Motl had to work a little harder, but still came away with a 7-5 win.

In singles, Slump, Moonen, and Max Rauch all took the first set for the Blue Raiders. However, only Slump finished his opponent in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Rauch dropped the second set, but came back to win the decisive third set and the match, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

Edge and Francisco Rocha both fell in straight sets as Alabama came back to get within 3-2 in the overall match. Moonen was forced to a third set and was unable to get back into the third set as he fell behind early, dropping the match, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, as the Crimson tied up the match at three.

Motl came back to force a third set after dropping the first set, but could not complete the comeback as he fell 2-6, 6-3, 5-7.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action next weekend when they host both DePaul and South Florida at the Adams Tennis Complex. First serve against the Blue Demons will at 1 p.m. on Friday while the Raiders will battle the Bulls at noon on Sunday.