Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, March 25
5:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
4
vs
3
Texas Tech
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Rocha Clinches the win in the Battle of the Raiders, No. 22 Blue Raiders defeat No. 42 Red Raiders Friday Night
3/25/2022 9:25:00 PM | Men's Tennis
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – In the first outside home match of the season, the No. 22 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (21-3) defeat the No. 42 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-7) by a tight score of 4-3 in front of one of the largest outdoor regular season crowds in program history on Friday night.
"Today was the Battle of the Raiders, we came out in the doubles strong which was very exciting, very competitive. I was telling them that 'The Red Raiders of Texas Tech were very strong' and they showed us today," Head Coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were ready for the battle and Francisco (Rocha) came through in the end. Again, I'm proud of the guys, amazing run we are on right now but we're going to dial back a little bit, take a break, and get back to work on Monday." Borendame said.
Friday night's match was the first time a Big 12 Conference institution has played in Murfreesboro during the Spring season (official matches). Coming into the match, Texas Tech owned a 6-2 advantage over Middle Tennessee in the all-time series between the two programs. Friday's match was the first meeting between the two schools outside of a neutral site.
With the Blue Raider victory, the squad has won 15-straight matches and has now defeated seven ranked opponents this season. The win over Texas Tech marks the eighth win over a power-5 opponent this year. Also with the win over Texas Tech, the Blue Raiders tied the third best record in program history set by Dick LaLance in 1979 at 21-3. This years MT squad is three wins away from tying the current program record in wins and overall record, the current record to topple is 24-5 (1996 & 1997, HC Dale Short). Middle Tennessee has four regular season matches remaining and at least one match at the Conference USA Championship in Norfolk, Va.
To begin the dual match, Middle Tennessee came out hungry to gain momentum in doubles competition. Court No. 3, consisting of Chris Edge and Stepan Holis, finished first at a score of 6-4. With the win, Edge becomes the second Blue Raider in program history to reach 100 career singles and doubles wins.
Seniors Stijn Slump and Pavel Motl clinched the doubles point for MT with a similar 6-4 win on court No. 2.
In singles play, the Red Raiders flipped the script and claimed the first three points over the Blue Raiders, taking down Holis, Motl, and No. 123 Edge in that order. At this point in the match, TTU held a 3-1 lead over MT with three singles courts remaining.
Minutes after Edge fell on court No. 4, Freshman Oskar Brostrom Poulsen defeated Franco Ribero at 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 giving Middle Tennessee their second point on the night.
To tie the match at three, Havelte, Netherlands product No. 90 Slump earned his fourth ranked win on the season, taking down #109 Issac Arevalo at straight 7-5 sets on the top court.
In heroic fashion, Senior #86 Francisco Rocha defeated Reed Collier in three sets at 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in front of the Blue Raider faithful to clinch the match in the home teams' favor.
Next up
No. 22 Middle Tennessee will have two weeks off competition before hosting No. 31 Memphis and Alabama A&M in a double-header on Friday, April 8 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. CT. The matchup with Memphis will be our annual "Senior Day" honoring Graduate Students Edge and Holis, fans are encouraged to stay post-match to recognize those two student-athletes for their contributions to Middle Tennessee State University and the men's tennis program.
Singles competition
1. #90 SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) def. #109 Issac Arevalo (TT) 7-5, 7-5
2. #86 ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) def. Reed Collier (TT) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
3. Ilgiz Valiev (TT) def. HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Olle Wallin (TT) def. #123 EDGE, Chris (MTSU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
5. Dimitrios Azoidis (TT) def. MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) def. Franco Ribero (TT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Order of finish: Singles (3,5,4,6,1,2)
Doubles competition
1. #66 POULSEN, Oskar/ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) vs. Issac Arevalo/Piotr Pawlak (TT) 5-4, unf.
2. SLUMP, Stijn/MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) def. Dimitrios Azoidis/Reed Collier (TT) 6-4
3. EDGE, Chris/HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) def. Franco Ribero/Ilgiz Valiev (TT) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2)
Follow us
Follow Middle Tennessee men's tennis on social media - Facebook (BlueRaiderMensTennis), Twitter (MT_MensTennis) and Instagram (MT_MensTennis).
"Today was the Battle of the Raiders, we came out in the doubles strong which was very exciting, very competitive. I was telling them that 'The Red Raiders of Texas Tech were very strong' and they showed us today," Head Coach Jimmy Borendame said. "We were ready for the battle and Francisco (Rocha) came through in the end. Again, I'm proud of the guys, amazing run we are on right now but we're going to dial back a little bit, take a break, and get back to work on Monday." Borendame said.
Friday night's match was the first time a Big 12 Conference institution has played in Murfreesboro during the Spring season (official matches). Coming into the match, Texas Tech owned a 6-2 advantage over Middle Tennessee in the all-time series between the two programs. Friday's match was the first meeting between the two schools outside of a neutral site.
With the Blue Raider victory, the squad has won 15-straight matches and has now defeated seven ranked opponents this season. The win over Texas Tech marks the eighth win over a power-5 opponent this year. Also with the win over Texas Tech, the Blue Raiders tied the third best record in program history set by Dick LaLance in 1979 at 21-3. This years MT squad is three wins away from tying the current program record in wins and overall record, the current record to topple is 24-5 (1996 & 1997, HC Dale Short). Middle Tennessee has four regular season matches remaining and at least one match at the Conference USA Championship in Norfolk, Va.
To begin the dual match, Middle Tennessee came out hungry to gain momentum in doubles competition. Court No. 3, consisting of Chris Edge and Stepan Holis, finished first at a score of 6-4. With the win, Edge becomes the second Blue Raider in program history to reach 100 career singles and doubles wins.
Seniors Stijn Slump and Pavel Motl clinched the doubles point for MT with a similar 6-4 win on court No. 2.
In singles play, the Red Raiders flipped the script and claimed the first three points over the Blue Raiders, taking down Holis, Motl, and No. 123 Edge in that order. At this point in the match, TTU held a 3-1 lead over MT with three singles courts remaining.
Minutes after Edge fell on court No. 4, Freshman Oskar Brostrom Poulsen defeated Franco Ribero at 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 giving Middle Tennessee their second point on the night.
To tie the match at three, Havelte, Netherlands product No. 90 Slump earned his fourth ranked win on the season, taking down #109 Issac Arevalo at straight 7-5 sets on the top court.
In heroic fashion, Senior #86 Francisco Rocha defeated Reed Collier in three sets at 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in front of the Blue Raider faithful to clinch the match in the home teams' favor.
Next up
No. 22 Middle Tennessee will have two weeks off competition before hosting No. 31 Memphis and Alabama A&M in a double-header on Friday, April 8 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. CT. The matchup with Memphis will be our annual "Senior Day" honoring Graduate Students Edge and Holis, fans are encouraged to stay post-match to recognize those two student-athletes for their contributions to Middle Tennessee State University and the men's tennis program.
Singles competition
1. #90 SLUMP, Stijn (MTSU) def. #109 Issac Arevalo (TT) 7-5, 7-5
2. #86 ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) def. Reed Collier (TT) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4
3. Ilgiz Valiev (TT) def. HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Olle Wallin (TT) def. #123 EDGE, Chris (MTSU) 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
5. Dimitrios Azoidis (TT) def. MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) 6-3, 6-4
6. POULSEN, Oskar (MTSU) def. Franco Ribero (TT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Order of finish: Singles (3,5,4,6,1,2)
Doubles competition
1. #66 POULSEN, Oskar/ROCHA, Francisco (MTSU) vs. Issac Arevalo/Piotr Pawlak (TT) 5-4, unf.
2. SLUMP, Stijn/MOTL, Pavel (MTSU) def. Dimitrios Azoidis/Reed Collier (TT) 6-4
3. EDGE, Chris/HOLIS, Stepan (MTSU) def. Franco Ribero/Ilgiz Valiev (TT) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2)
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:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Issac Arevalo / 0 (109/-) [TT]
55
77
#2 Singles Match
123
Reed Collier / 0 [TT]
464
616
#3 Singles Match
12
Ilgiz Valiev / 0 [TT]
66
24
#4 Singles Match
123
Olle Wallin / 0 [TT]
746
662
#5 Singles Match
12
Dimitrios Azoidis / 0 [TT]
66
34
#6 Singles Match
12
Franco Ribero / 0 [TT]
63
76
Order of Finish:
3,5,4,6,1,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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