Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders Hope to Ride Wave Through C-USA Tournament
4/13/2021 1:21:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Over the last few seasons, Middle Tennessee's men's tennis team has been arguably the best program in Conference USA, and it's gone to another level this year.
After making it to three straight C-USA tournament semifinals from 2016-18, MT captured the 2019 C-USA title at Murfreesboro's Adams Tennis Complex in thrilling fashion. That was followed by a 13-5 start to the 2020 season before it was called off in mid-March.
The Blue Raiders got its core back for this season, and they took the momentum gained from last year into the fall and carried it over to this spring. They're currently 13-7, four more wins than the next closest C-USA program with just one match left until the conference tourney.
That core includes heralded graduate students Max Rauch and Tom Moonen and senior Chris Edge, three players who are in the top 10 all-time at MT in combined wins and have multiple all-conference honors under their belts.
When the Oracle ITA Division I Men's Singles Rankings were released on March 30, however, it wasn't one of those three elder Raiders leading the way. Junior Francisco Rocha found himself ranked 37th in the country, highest in C-USA, while the team slotted in at 38th in the team rankings.
"All my teammates have been helping me a lot," Rocha said. "I've never been ranked that high, and they always have my back and are helping me on the court. I'm so grateful for that. … I don't think our culture could get any better than it is right now."
Rocha, a Porto, Portugal native, had a fantastic showing in the fall. He finished 10-2 in singles play and 7-5 in doubles to lead the team in combined wins while taking down No. 46-ranked Daniel Rodrigues (6-2, 6-3) of South Carolina and No. 89-ranked Florian Broska (6-1, 2-6, 7-5) of Mississippi State in the process.
He got another ranked win this spring when Middle Tennessee beat No. 29 South Florida on March 28, extending the team's home winning streak to 28 matches, the longest active streak in the country. Rocha took down No. 45-ranked Chase Ferguson 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.
His ranked win not only catapulted him to the 37th spot in the ITA rankings, but it also earned him a C-USA Player of the Week award.
"It's been a lot of work behind the scenes nobody sees," Rocha said. "It's been a lot of hard work, but it's finally paying off, and I'm very, very happy with that."
Beating South Florida was just one of many incredible feats for MT this season. In addition to the 28-match home winning streak, it has wins over Power 5 conference programs Iowa, Notre Dame, Louisville and Vanderbilt twice, including the team's first win over its in-state foe in 15 years.
"Every day has been amazing this spring," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were rolling last year … and I was curious to see how we would follow it up. We've been able to continue that momentum really well.
"Obviously, beating Vanderbilt was a huge monkey off our back. They've had our number for years. To continue that momentum with Notre Dame, Iowa, South Florida — it's been really cool to see."
In a season where just about everything has gone right, Borendame is trying to get his team to take things day by day and step by step.
"I'm just focusing on one day at a time … just work today, and tomorrow will come when it comes," he said. "At this point, that's all you can do is take it one moment at a time and move on."
The Blue Raiders have a final home match left, senior day at the Adams Tennis Complex against Georgia State Friday. After that, they'll get some last-minute practice time in before heading to the C-USA tournament April 23-25 at Charlotte.
The confidence is clearly there. Now all that's left to do to grab another conference title is show again why Middle Tennessee has turned into the league's best.
"We've been playing great tennis, and even when we have our setbacks, as a team, we regroup very well and respond to those setbacks well," Rocha said. "We're experienced in college tennis and know how to win. … I think we have the potential to go far and the quality and the talent, but every match is a different match. We have to be ready for all of them."
After making it to three straight C-USA tournament semifinals from 2016-18, MT captured the 2019 C-USA title at Murfreesboro's Adams Tennis Complex in thrilling fashion. That was followed by a 13-5 start to the 2020 season before it was called off in mid-March.
The Blue Raiders got its core back for this season, and they took the momentum gained from last year into the fall and carried it over to this spring. They're currently 13-7, four more wins than the next closest C-USA program with just one match left until the conference tourney.
That core includes heralded graduate students Max Rauch and Tom Moonen and senior Chris Edge, three players who are in the top 10 all-time at MT in combined wins and have multiple all-conference honors under their belts.
When the Oracle ITA Division I Men's Singles Rankings were released on March 30, however, it wasn't one of those three elder Raiders leading the way. Junior Francisco Rocha found himself ranked 37th in the country, highest in C-USA, while the team slotted in at 38th in the team rankings.
"All my teammates have been helping me a lot," Rocha said. "I've never been ranked that high, and they always have my back and are helping me on the court. I'm so grateful for that. … I don't think our culture could get any better than it is right now."
Rocha, a Porto, Portugal native, had a fantastic showing in the fall. He finished 10-2 in singles play and 7-5 in doubles to lead the team in combined wins while taking down No. 46-ranked Daniel Rodrigues (6-2, 6-3) of South Carolina and No. 89-ranked Florian Broska (6-1, 2-6, 7-5) of Mississippi State in the process.
He got another ranked win this spring when Middle Tennessee beat No. 29 South Florida on March 28, extending the team's home winning streak to 28 matches, the longest active streak in the country. Rocha took down No. 45-ranked Chase Ferguson 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3 at No. 1 singles.
His ranked win not only catapulted him to the 37th spot in the ITA rankings, but it also earned him a C-USA Player of the Week award.
"It's been a lot of work behind the scenes nobody sees," Rocha said. "It's been a lot of hard work, but it's finally paying off, and I'm very, very happy with that."
Beating South Florida was just one of many incredible feats for MT this season. In addition to the 28-match home winning streak, it has wins over Power 5 conference programs Iowa, Notre Dame, Louisville and Vanderbilt twice, including the team's first win over its in-state foe in 15 years.
"Every day has been amazing this spring," head coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were rolling last year … and I was curious to see how we would follow it up. We've been able to continue that momentum really well.
"Obviously, beating Vanderbilt was a huge monkey off our back. They've had our number for years. To continue that momentum with Notre Dame, Iowa, South Florida — it's been really cool to see."
In a season where just about everything has gone right, Borendame is trying to get his team to take things day by day and step by step.
"I'm just focusing on one day at a time … just work today, and tomorrow will come when it comes," he said. "At this point, that's all you can do is take it one moment at a time and move on."
The Blue Raiders have a final home match left, senior day at the Adams Tennis Complex against Georgia State Friday. After that, they'll get some last-minute practice time in before heading to the C-USA tournament April 23-25 at Charlotte.
The confidence is clearly there. Now all that's left to do to grab another conference title is show again why Middle Tennessee has turned into the league's best.
"We've been playing great tennis, and even when we have our setbacks, as a team, we regroup very well and respond to those setbacks well," Rocha said. "We're experienced in college tennis and know how to win. … I think we have the potential to go far and the quality and the talent, but every match is a different match. We have to be ready for all of them."
Players Mentioned
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