Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Women’s Basketball Set for Rivalry Week at the Murphy Center
1/24/2022 5:00:00 PM | General, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Women's Tennis, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Lady Raider basketball is set to finally return to the Murphy Center after a three-game road swing throughout the Southeast, with games against Marshall on Thursday and Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Rick Insell's squad sits 13-4 on the season and 5-2 within conference play, with two tightly contested road losses and a perfect record at home. And with games against teams with a 6-1 and 7-0 conference record on tap this weekend, MT has a great shot at jumping up the C-USA East standings, which have tightened atop the division to start the year.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday against the Thundering Herd and for 3 p.m. on Saturday against the Hilltoppers.
In the meantime, this quote from Rick Insell caught my eye over the weekend after Courtney Whitson secured her second double-double of the season with 15 points in the fourth quarter of MT's 81-71 win over Southern Miss this past Saturday.
Bahamas Bowl Champions Recognized at Men's Basketball Win over Southern Miss
A big thank you to all who made it out the Murphy Center on Saturday afternoon to cheer on the Blue Raiders and to recognize our football team for their Bahamas Bowl win. Please enjoy some highlights from the pregame autographs, and the on-court action!
Men's Basketball now hits the road for a three game road trip of their own, starting on Thursday night in Huntington, W. Va. when they take on Marshall.
Men's Tennis Rides Hot Start into ITA Kickoff Weekend
Coach Jimmy Borendame's men's tennis program has gotten off to a great start to their 2022 spring campaign, only dropping one dual team match through their first five heading into ITA Kickoff Weekend at No. 7 Virginia. Before dropping a close match at No. 21 Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee did not drop a single match through the team's first four games, the first time that has happened in program history.
The Blue Raiders have been buoyed by the arrival of Oskar Brostrom Poulsen into their lineup. The freshman is 5-0 on the year in singles play, splitting his time on courts 3, 5, and 6. MT has not lost a doubles point or a point on Court 6 all season, with three freshmen (Brostrom Poulsen, John Chin and Lucas Olivier) combining for that perfect record on Court 6.
Teaming up with Francisco Rocha, Brostrom Poulsen helped secure the doubles point over the weekend for the duo's second win as a pair this season.
Ranked at No. 41 during the draft phase of the ITA Kickoff last summer, MT is the third highest seeded team in Charlottesville, Va. this weekend. They'll take on the second highest seed, unranked Georgia Tech, to open the weekend on Saturday, before facing either UVA or Ball State on Sunday.
Women's Tennis Readies for Home Opener This Friday
Back at the Adams Tennis Complex, Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall's is set for their first home match of the spring semester, as they battle East Tennessee State. Doubles is set to begin at 2 p.m., with singles to follow soon after.
Lee Barnard has been a strong presence for MT on Court 1 this season. With the Blue Raiders still searching for their second win through five matches, the senior from Midstream, South Africa has bested her opponent's best player three times already this season, leading MT with a 3-2 record.
Track and Field Set Several Personal Bests in Nashville for Second Weekend in a Row
Competing at Vanderbilt for the second weekend in a row, the Blue Raiders continued to improve their performances as they march towards C-USA Indoor Championships later this winter.
MT was led by Benjamin Onyekwelu, who set a personal best in the long jump with a distance of 7.71m. To this point in the season, it's the seventh best long jump in the country.
Lyn'Nikka Vance was the top indoor eligible athlete in the long jump, setting her personal best mark for the second weekend in a row with a distance of 6.11 m.
Esther Isa took silver honors twice during the weekend, earning second place in both the high jump (1.75m) and triple jump (12.63m).
In track event, Connor Ono paced the way for the Blue Raiders with a 48.77 seconds mark in the 400m dash, finishing in third place.
As Always, Coaches Show on Tap for Monday Night!
It's Monday, which means it's time for the Basketball Coaches Shows, hosted by The Boulevard! Swing by The Boulevard to watch both Rick Insell Live and Nick McDevitt Live this evening, or use the Varsity App to tune in from home. Rick Insell Live is also carried over the air on WGNS, while Nick McDevitt Live is broadcast by both WGNS and ESPN Radio 94.9.
Rick Insell Live will start at 6 p.m., featuring Jada Grannum and Skye Payne as this week's guests. Nick McDevitt Live will follow at 7 p.m.
Rick Insell's squad sits 13-4 on the season and 5-2 within conference play, with two tightly contested road losses and a perfect record at home. And with games against teams with a 6-1 and 7-0 conference record on tap this weekend, MT has a great shot at jumping up the C-USA East standings, which have tightened atop the division to start the year.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday against the Thundering Herd and for 3 p.m. on Saturday against the Hilltoppers.
In the meantime, this quote from Rick Insell caught my eye over the weekend after Courtney Whitson secured her second double-double of the season with 15 points in the fourth quarter of MT's 81-71 win over Southern Miss this past Saturday.
Today's @MidSouthFord Player of the Game is @WhitsonCourtney!
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) January 22, 2022
Coach Insell's first postgame interview answer:
"Courtney Whitson is a bad, bad woman."
We agree. pic.twitter.com/bKMk5SDYH1
Bahamas Bowl Champions Recognized at Men's Basketball Win over Southern Miss
A big thank you to all who made it out the Murphy Center on Saturday afternoon to cheer on the Blue Raiders and to recognize our football team for their Bahamas Bowl win. Please enjoy some highlights from the pregame autographs, and the on-court action!
Thanks for having us out yesterday, @MT_MBB!@TheBahamasBowl champs get back to work this week. 😏 pic.twitter.com/uoQDnnEIYH
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) January 23, 2022
11. In. A. Row.#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/TguhXi4mN0
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 24, 2022
Men's Basketball now hits the road for a three game road trip of their own, starting on Thursday night in Huntington, W. Va. when they take on Marshall.
Men's Tennis Rides Hot Start into ITA Kickoff Weekend
Coach Jimmy Borendame's men's tennis program has gotten off to a great start to their 2022 spring campaign, only dropping one dual team match through their first five heading into ITA Kickoff Weekend at No. 7 Virginia. Before dropping a close match at No. 21 Mississippi State, Middle Tennessee did not drop a single match through the team's first four games, the first time that has happened in program history.
The Blue Raiders have been buoyed by the arrival of Oskar Brostrom Poulsen into their lineup. The freshman is 5-0 on the year in singles play, splitting his time on courts 3, 5, and 6. MT has not lost a doubles point or a point on Court 6 all season, with three freshmen (Brostrom Poulsen, John Chin and Lucas Olivier) combining for that perfect record on Court 6.
Teaming up with Francisco Rocha, Brostrom Poulsen helped secure the doubles point over the weekend for the duo's second win as a pair this season.
DOUBLES POINT BLUE RAIDERS!!!
— MT Men's Tennis (@MT_MensTennis) January 23, 2022
.@Francis88903160 and @BrostrOskar gain a come from behind win on court No. 2 7-6 (7-4) to give MT the advantage 💥#Superb pic.twitter.com/K0CaitmD2K
Ranked at No. 41 during the draft phase of the ITA Kickoff last summer, MT is the third highest seeded team in Charlottesville, Va. this weekend. They'll take on the second highest seed, unranked Georgia Tech, to open the weekend on Saturday, before facing either UVA or Ball State on Sunday.
Women's Tennis Readies for Home Opener This Friday
Back at the Adams Tennis Complex, Coach Tayo Bailey-Duvall's is set for their first home match of the spring semester, as they battle East Tennessee State. Doubles is set to begin at 2 p.m., with singles to follow soon after.
Lee Barnard has been a strong presence for MT on Court 1 this season. With the Blue Raiders still searching for their second win through five matches, the senior from Midstream, South Africa has bested her opponent's best player three times already this season, leading MT with a 3-2 record.
Match week in the 'Boro! 🎾
— MT Women's Tennis (@MT_WomensTennis) January 24, 2022
Free admission inside the Adams Tennis Complex throughout the season.#MT pic.twitter.com/w7PnYDw6l7
Track and Field Set Several Personal Bests in Nashville for Second Weekend in a Row
Competing at Vanderbilt for the second weekend in a row, the Blue Raiders continued to improve their performances as they march towards C-USA Indoor Championships later this winter.
MT was led by Benjamin Onyekwelu, who set a personal best in the long jump with a distance of 7.71m. To this point in the season, it's the seventh best long jump in the country.
Lyn'Nikka Vance was the top indoor eligible athlete in the long jump, setting her personal best mark for the second weekend in a row with a distance of 6.11 m.
Esther Isa took silver honors twice during the weekend, earning second place in both the high jump (1.75m) and triple jump (12.63m).
In track event, Connor Ono paced the way for the Blue Raiders with a 48.77 seconds mark in the 400m dash, finishing in third place.
Vanderbilt Invitational ✅
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 23, 2022
📸: Emily Cole#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/xb8HjdPwOI
As Always, Coaches Show on Tap for Monday Night!
It's Monday, which means it's time for the Basketball Coaches Shows, hosted by The Boulevard! Swing by The Boulevard to watch both Rick Insell Live and Nick McDevitt Live this evening, or use the Varsity App to tune in from home. Rick Insell Live is also carried over the air on WGNS, while Nick McDevitt Live is broadcast by both WGNS and ESPN Radio 94.9.
Rick Insell Live will start at 6 p.m., featuring Jada Grannum and Skye Payne as this week's guests. Nick McDevitt Live will follow at 7 p.m.
Join us TONIGHT at @TheBoulevardTN for @CoachInsell LIVE and @MTCoachNick LIVE!@MT_WBB's show starts at 6 on @WGNSSports and @varsity.@MT_MBB follows at 7 on @WGNSSports, @ESPN949 & @varsity. pic.twitter.com/CALEzNJiBS
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) January 24, 2022
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
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/ Women's Basketball
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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