Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, February 18
5:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
4
vs
2
Auburn
Photo by: Nathan Wallach/Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders Knock Off Unbeaten No. 24 Auburn for First Top 25 Win Since 2006
2/18/2022 10:52:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee men's tennis (10-3, 1-0) upset No. 24 Auburn (8-1) by a score of 4-2 on Friday night inside the Adams Tennis Complex.
With the win, the Blue Raiders earned their 10th win on the season, MT has achieved a double-digit win total in each of the last 11 seasons. Friday night's win is the fourth win over a power 5 opponent this season and the first top 25 win since March 10, 2006.
"For now, we are just enjoying this win because it's massive, everyone wanted this extremely bad, especially after losing to them (Auburn) last year," Assistant Coach Andrea Caligiana said. "I actually find it funny that last year we lost 4-2 with Pavel (Motl) dropping the clinching point and this year it all comes back to Pavel clinching the match 4-2 our way this time. But a great environment in the ATC today, it was packed, and our fans are incredible."
In doubles, Chris Edge and Stepan Holis continued their winning ways with a 6-1 finish on court No. 3, as a duo they move to 11-1 on the season. Francisco Rocha and Oskar Brostrom Poulsen clinched the doubles point in exciting fashion defeating Finn Murgett and Tad Maclean 6-4, their opponent were finalists in last year's NCAA Doubles Championship.
However, Murgett bounced back in singles to defeat Brostrom Poulsen in two sets at 6-4, 6-3 to equalize the match at one all.
Graduate Student Edge was the first Blue Raider to finish in singles, defeating #85 Mclean in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to give him his first ranked win on the season and give the advantage back to MT at 2-1.
Senior Stijn Slump, who is No. 61 in the latest ITA Rankings, took down No. 84 Jan Galka in two sets 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) for his third-straight win over a power 5 opponent on the top court. Two of those victories have come against ranked individuals.
Holis dropped his match at 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to give Auburn their second point.
Moments later, Senior Pavel Motl clinched the match as a packed house erupted once Will Nolan hit the ball out of play. Motl won at 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 avenging his defeat in similar fashion last season in Auburn, Ala.
Next Up
Middle Tennessee will use tomorrow as a travel day in preparation to face Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. for another match against a P5 school.
Singles competition
1. #61 SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) def. #84 Jan Galka (AUB) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
2. ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) vs. #95 Tyler Stice (AUB) 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), unfinished
3. EDGE, Chris (MTSU) def. #85 Tad Maclean (AUB) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
4. Raul Dobai (AUB) def. HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Finn Murgett (AUB) def. POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Singles (5,3,1,4,6)
Doubles competition
1. ROCHA, Francisco/POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) def. Finn Murgett/Tad Maclean (AUB) 6-4
2. MOTL, Pavel/SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) vs. #46 Jan Galka/Tyler Stice (AUB) 5-4, unfinished
3. EDGE, Chris/HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) def. Maxwell Giddens/Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-3
Doubles (3,1)
With the win, the Blue Raiders earned their 10th win on the season, MT has achieved a double-digit win total in each of the last 11 seasons. Friday night's win is the fourth win over a power 5 opponent this season and the first top 25 win since March 10, 2006.
"For now, we are just enjoying this win because it's massive, everyone wanted this extremely bad, especially after losing to them (Auburn) last year," Assistant Coach Andrea Caligiana said. "I actually find it funny that last year we lost 4-2 with Pavel (Motl) dropping the clinching point and this year it all comes back to Pavel clinching the match 4-2 our way this time. But a great environment in the ATC today, it was packed, and our fans are incredible."
In doubles, Chris Edge and Stepan Holis continued their winning ways with a 6-1 finish on court No. 3, as a duo they move to 11-1 on the season. Francisco Rocha and Oskar Brostrom Poulsen clinched the doubles point in exciting fashion defeating Finn Murgett and Tad Maclean 6-4, their opponent were finalists in last year's NCAA Doubles Championship.
However, Murgett bounced back in singles to defeat Brostrom Poulsen in two sets at 6-4, 6-3 to equalize the match at one all.
Graduate Student Edge was the first Blue Raider to finish in singles, defeating #85 Mclean in three sets 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to give him his first ranked win on the season and give the advantage back to MT at 2-1.
Senior Stijn Slump, who is No. 61 in the latest ITA Rankings, took down No. 84 Jan Galka in two sets 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) for his third-straight win over a power 5 opponent on the top court. Two of those victories have come against ranked individuals.
Holis dropped his match at 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to give Auburn their second point.
Moments later, Senior Pavel Motl clinched the match as a packed house erupted once Will Nolan hit the ball out of play. Motl won at 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 avenging his defeat in similar fashion last season in Auburn, Ala.
Next Up
Middle Tennessee will use tomorrow as a travel day in preparation to face Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich. for another match against a P5 school.
Singles competition
1. #61 SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) def. #84 Jan Galka (AUB) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
2. ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) vs. #95 Tyler Stice (AUB) 5-7, 7-6 (7-1), unfinished
3. EDGE, Chris (MTSU) def. #85 Tad Maclean (AUB) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
4. Raul Dobai (AUB) def. HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
5. Finn Murgett (AUB) def. POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) 6-4, 6-3
6. MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Singles (5,3,1,4,6)
Doubles competition
1. ROCHA, Francisco/POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) def. Finn Murgett/Tad Maclean (AUB) 6-4
2. MOTL, Pavel/SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) vs. #46 Jan Galka/Tyler Stice (AUB) 5-4, unfinished
3. EDGE, Chris/HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) def. Maxwell Giddens/Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-3
Doubles (3,1)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Jan Galka / 0 (84/-) [AUB]
46
67
#2 Singles Match
123
Tyler Stice / 0 (95/-) [AUB]
760
57UF
#3 Singles Match
123
Tad Maclean / 0 (85/-) [AUB]
164
646
#4 Singles Match
123
Raul Dobai / 0 [AUB]
636
463
#5 Singles Match
12
Finn Murgett / 0 [AUB]
66
43
#6 Singles Match
123
Will Nolan / 0 [AUB]
265
627
Order of Finish:
5,3,1,4,6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
MTSU Tennis Pro-Am 9/6/25
Tuesday, September 09
Facility tour – Stephen and Denise Smith Student-Athlete Performance Center
Wednesday, July 30
Men's Tennis NCAA Selection Show Watch Party on 04/28/25
Tuesday, April 29
MTSU Men's Tennis CUSA Championship vs Liberty Recap on 04/20/25
Wednesday, April 23
