Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, May 8
Oxford, Miss.
12 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
vs
Tulane
Photo by: Charlotte Athletics
Blue Raiders Set to Battle Tulane in NCAA First Round
5/7/2021 10:09:00 AM | Men's Tennis, BRAA
OXFORD, Miss. – The Middle Tennessee men's tennis team opens the NCAA Tournament, Saturday afternoon against Tulane. First serve from the Palmer/Salloum Tennis Center is set 12 p.m.
The Blue Raiders are the #3 seed in the Oxford regional and ranked #42 in the nation while the Green Wave are the #2 seed and ranked 22nd in the latest ITA rankings.
Francisco Rocha enters the NCAA Tournament ranked #55 in the country and will have a tough test facing off against Hamish Stewart who is currently ranked 34th in the nation. Rocha is already off to a strong week as he earned a bid to the NCAA Singles Championships, Tuesday.
Stijn Slump will be the #2 singles player for the Blue Raiders this weekend and will look to extend a personal four-match winning streak. He currently leads MTSU with 16 wins this spring season.
At #3 singles, Tom Moonen will look to extend his career. The fifth-year senior has eight wins this season, the last being the Conference USA championship-clinching match on April 25.
Chris Edge is second on the team with 15 wins, including three straight-set wins in the Conference USA Tournament. For his career, Edge is 81-36 in singles competition for a .692 winning percentage, ninth best in program history.
Pavel Motl and Max Rauch round out the singles lineup for the Blue Raiders. Between the two of them, they have combined for 16 wins this season, providing important depth for MTSU.
In doubles action, Motl and Slump are the top pair for the Raiders and are currently ranked #77 in the country. Tulane will trot out the duo of Stewart and Ewan Moore who are ranked #21 in the nation.
After picking up three wins in the conference championships, Moonen and Edge will look to improve upon their 15-6 record this weekend as they play at second doubles.
Rauch and Rocha complete the doubles lineup for MTSU and are currently 11-9 this spring.
The Raiders have had some success playing in Oxford with their last NCAA Tournament victory coming at Ole Miss in 2002, where they defeated Alabama, 4-3, in the first round.
Single session tickets are available online prior to the match. If tickets are not sold out prior to matchday, the remaining tickets will be available for purchase via cash only at the gate. Gates will open one hour prior to match time beginning at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. No fans are permitted if competition is moved indoors.
The winner of the match between MTSU and Tulane will face the winner of Ole Miss/Belmont with the right to go to Orlando for the Sweet 16.
The Blue Raiders are the #3 seed in the Oxford regional and ranked #42 in the nation while the Green Wave are the #2 seed and ranked 22nd in the latest ITA rankings.
Francisco Rocha enters the NCAA Tournament ranked #55 in the country and will have a tough test facing off against Hamish Stewart who is currently ranked 34th in the nation. Rocha is already off to a strong week as he earned a bid to the NCAA Singles Championships, Tuesday.
Stijn Slump will be the #2 singles player for the Blue Raiders this weekend and will look to extend a personal four-match winning streak. He currently leads MTSU with 16 wins this spring season.
At #3 singles, Tom Moonen will look to extend his career. The fifth-year senior has eight wins this season, the last being the Conference USA championship-clinching match on April 25.
Chris Edge is second on the team with 15 wins, including three straight-set wins in the Conference USA Tournament. For his career, Edge is 81-36 in singles competition for a .692 winning percentage, ninth best in program history.
Pavel Motl and Max Rauch round out the singles lineup for the Blue Raiders. Between the two of them, they have combined for 16 wins this season, providing important depth for MTSU.
In doubles action, Motl and Slump are the top pair for the Raiders and are currently ranked #77 in the country. Tulane will trot out the duo of Stewart and Ewan Moore who are ranked #21 in the nation.
After picking up three wins in the conference championships, Moonen and Edge will look to improve upon their 15-6 record this weekend as they play at second doubles.
Rauch and Rocha complete the doubles lineup for MTSU and are currently 11-9 this spring.
The Raiders have had some success playing in Oxford with their last NCAA Tournament victory coming at Ole Miss in 2002, where they defeated Alabama, 4-3, in the first round.
Single session tickets are available online prior to the match. If tickets are not sold out prior to matchday, the remaining tickets will be available for purchase via cash only at the gate. Gates will open one hour prior to match time beginning at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday and 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. No fans are permitted if competition is moved indoors.
The winner of the match between MTSU and Tulane will face the winner of Ole Miss/Belmont with the right to go to Orlando for the Sweet 16.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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MTSU Men's Tennis CUSA Championship vs Liberty Recap on 04/20/25
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