Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Sunday, February 20
East Lansing, Mich.
10:00 a.m.
Middle Tennessee
5
at
2
Michigan State
Photo by: Nathan Wallach/Athletic Communications
Middle Tennessee Secures Road Win at Michigan State
2/20/2022 5:03:00 PM | Men's Tennis
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Two days after taking down No. 24 Auburn inside the Adams Tennis Complex for its first top 25 win since 2006, Middle Tennessee men's tennis (11-3, 1-0) defeats Michigan State (7-2) in a true-road match by a score of 5-2.
With the win, Middle Tennessee moves to 11-3 on the season and earned its fifth win over a power 5 opponent. Four of those have come in consecutive games. "The guys played very well in doubles and were very very sharp. Michigan State brought a good crowd and energy to the match and it's always tough on the road," Head Coach Jimmy Borendame said. "This was a good win in another tough environment. We will get back to town tomorrow and keep working as we transition to all outdoor tennis from here on out."
In doubles, the Senior duo of Stijn Slump and Pavel Motl crushed Max Sheldon and Carson Gates of Michigan State at 6-0, finishing first. To claim the doubles point, Freshman Oskar Brostrom Poulsen and Senior Francisco Rocha similarly won 6-0. MT has now clinched 12-of-13 (.923) doubles points over opponents this season.
In singles, the speedy Chris Edge cruised once again on court No. 3 with a 6-1, 6-1 finisher over Graydon Lair. Edge has now won seven-straight singles matches, five of those over P5 opponents.
Porto, Portugal native Rocha claimed the third point for the Blue Raider with an impressive victory over Gates at 6-2, 6-0. Rocha is on a five-match winning streak on the Blue Raider second court in finished matches.
Michigan State rallied on the top court and defeated No. 61 Stijn Slump in two sets 6-3, 6-3, giving the Spartans their first point and dealing Stijn his first loss in three matches.
A few moments later, Stepan Holis clinched the win for Middle Tennessee with a two-set 6-2, 6-4 win on court No. 4. With the win, Holis inches closer to .500 on the season, he sits at 5-and-6.
Coaches permitted court Nos. 5 and 6 to finish play, Brostrom Poulsen fell to MSU's Sheldon at 7-5, 6-4. Motl claimed his match at 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) over Nick Williams to give MT their fifth point and ending the dual match.
Next Up
The Blue Raiders will return to Murfreesboro to prepare for the Blue Grey Championships in Montgomery, Ala. Participating teams in the tournament field are Alabama, No. 17 Arizona, No. 24 Auburn, Nebraska, Princeton, Tulane, and VCU. MT will compete on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26 against TBA opponents listed in the field above. The draw for competition will take place the week of the tournament.
Singles Competition
1. Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Stijn Slump (MT) 6-3, 6-3
2. Francisco Rocha (MT) def. Carson Gates (MSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Chris Edge (MT) def. Graydon Lair (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Stepan Holis (MT) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Oskar Brostrom Poulsen (MT) 7-5, 6-4
6. Pavel Motl (MT) def. Nick Williams (MT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)
Doubles Competition
1. Brostrom Poulsen/Rocha (MT) def. Matsuno/Williams (MSU) 6-0
2. Slump/Motl (MT) def. Gates/Sheldon (MSU) 6-0
3. Edge / Holis (MT) vs. Mukherjae/Winkler (MSU) 4-3, unfinished
Doubles (2,1)
Follow us
Follow Middle Tennessee men's tennis on social media - Facebook (BlueRaiderMensTennis), Twitter (MT_MensTennis) and Instagram (MT_MensTennis).
With the win, Middle Tennessee moves to 11-3 on the season and earned its fifth win over a power 5 opponent. Four of those have come in consecutive games. "The guys played very well in doubles and were very very sharp. Michigan State brought a good crowd and energy to the match and it's always tough on the road," Head Coach Jimmy Borendame said. "This was a good win in another tough environment. We will get back to town tomorrow and keep working as we transition to all outdoor tennis from here on out."
In doubles, the Senior duo of Stijn Slump and Pavel Motl crushed Max Sheldon and Carson Gates of Michigan State at 6-0, finishing first. To claim the doubles point, Freshman Oskar Brostrom Poulsen and Senior Francisco Rocha similarly won 6-0. MT has now clinched 12-of-13 (.923) doubles points over opponents this season.
In singles, the speedy Chris Edge cruised once again on court No. 3 with a 6-1, 6-1 finisher over Graydon Lair. Edge has now won seven-straight singles matches, five of those over P5 opponents.
Porto, Portugal native Rocha claimed the third point for the Blue Raider with an impressive victory over Gates at 6-2, 6-0. Rocha is on a five-match winning streak on the Blue Raider second court in finished matches.
Michigan State rallied on the top court and defeated No. 61 Stijn Slump in two sets 6-3, 6-3, giving the Spartans their first point and dealing Stijn his first loss in three matches.
A few moments later, Stepan Holis clinched the win for Middle Tennessee with a two-set 6-2, 6-4 win on court No. 4. With the win, Holis inches closer to .500 on the season, he sits at 5-and-6.
Coaches permitted court Nos. 5 and 6 to finish play, Brostrom Poulsen fell to MSU's Sheldon at 7-5, 6-4. Motl claimed his match at 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) over Nick Williams to give MT their fifth point and ending the dual match.
Next Up
The Blue Raiders will return to Murfreesboro to prepare for the Blue Grey Championships in Montgomery, Ala. Participating teams in the tournament field are Alabama, No. 17 Arizona, No. 24 Auburn, Nebraska, Princeton, Tulane, and VCU. MT will compete on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26 against TBA opponents listed in the field above. The draw for competition will take place the week of the tournament.
Singles Competition
1. Jack Winkler (MSU) def. Stijn Slump (MT) 6-3, 6-3
2. Francisco Rocha (MT) def. Carson Gates (MSU) 6-2, 6-0
3. Chris Edge (MT) def. Graydon Lair (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Stepan Holis (MT) def. Luke Baylis (MSU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Max Sheldon (MSU) def. Oskar Brostrom Poulsen (MT) 7-5, 6-4
6. Pavel Motl (MT) def. Nick Williams (MT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
Singles (3,2,1,4,5,6)
Doubles Competition
1. Brostrom Poulsen/Rocha (MT) def. Matsuno/Williams (MSU) 6-0
2. Slump/Motl (MT) def. Gates/Sheldon (MSU) 6-0
3. Edge / Holis (MT) vs. Mukherjae/Winkler (MSU) 4-3, unfinished
Doubles (2,1)
Follow us
Follow Middle Tennessee men's tennis on social media - Facebook (BlueRaiderMensTennis), Twitter (MT_MensTennis) and Instagram (MT_MensTennis).
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
33
Winkler, Jack / 0 [MSU]
66
#2 Singles Match
12
66
Gates, Carson / 0 [MSU]
20
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Lair, Graydon / 0 [MSU]
11
#4 Singles Match
12
66
Baylis, Luke / 0 [MSU]
24
#5 Singles Match
12
54
Sheldon, Max / 0 [MSU]
76
#6 Singles Match
12
67
Williams, Nick / 0 [MSU]
46
Order of Finish:
3,2,1,4,5,6
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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