Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Rome Invitational
10/24/2026 1:37:00 AM | Men's Tennis
ROME, Ga. – Middle Tennessee Men's Tennis wrapped up its first of three days at the Rome Invitational, winning three matches in the process.
Alexandre Vassard won a singles and doubles match, while Eric Crivei took a singles bout of his own.
Vassard and his teammate Houston Jacques edged out Mississippi State's Roberto Ferrer and Segundo Goity, 6-4, for MTSU's only doubles victory of the day.
Crivei and Santiago Lora fell to the Bulldogs' Diego Duran and Luigi Valleta in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (2).
John Popowich and Rich LaLance could not overcome MSU's Marshall Landry and Jacopo Borsoi, as they were defeated, 6-2.
Singles play was split into two time slots, 10 a.m. CT and 2 p.m. CT.
In the morning window, only Crivei took his match, defeating Georgia's Eudald Gonzalez, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
Jacques and Popowich fell to UGA's Noble Renfrom and Gabriele Vulpitta respectively, in straight sets. Jacques was bested, 6-2, 6-4, while Popowich was overcome, 7-5, 6-1.
Lora's match against Georgia's Cooper Johnson and Vassard's against Georgia's Oliver Sanders both went to tiebreaker sets, but the Blue Raiders were unable to claim victory. Lora's match went to Johnson, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, while Vassard's went to Sanders, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
In the afternoon window, only Vassard earned a win, defeating Tennessee's Martin Doskocil in straight-set fasion, 6-3, 7-5.
Lora, LaLance and Crivei individually fell to Tennessee's Shion Itsusaki (6-2, 6-2), Woodson McMillan (6-4, 6-4) and Adrien Abarca (6-2, 2-6, 6-4) respectively.
Jacques and Popowich each forced tiebreaker sets that ended on the wrong side for the Blue and White with Jacques falling to Abarca, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. Popowich fell to Orel Kimhi in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Lora ( Itsusaki, 6-2, 6-2), LaLance ( McMillin, 6-4, 6-4) and Crivei (Jose Garcia, 6-1, 6-2) all fell in straight sets.
The Blue Raiders will turn around for day two of the Rome Invitational on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT.
RESULTS
DOUBLES
- Duran/Valleta [MSU] def. Crivei/Lora [MTSU], 7-6 (2)
- Landry/Borsoi [MSU] def. Popowich/Lalance [MTSU], 6-2
- Vassard/Jacques [MTSU] def. Ferrer/Goity [MSU], 6-4
SINGLES
10 a.m.
- Noble Renfrow [UGA] def. Houston Jacques [MTSU], 6-2, 6-4
- Oliver Sanders [UGA] def. Alexandre Vassard [MTSU], 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
- Gabriele Vulpitta [UGA] def. John Popowich [MTSU], 7-5, 6-1
- Cooper Johnson [UGA] def. Santiago Lora [MTSU], 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
- Eric Crivei [MTSU] def. Eudald Gonzales [UGA], 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
2 p.m.
- Orel Kimhi [UTK] def. John Popowich [MTSU], 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
- Shion Itsusaki [UTK] def. Santiago Lora [MTSU], 6-2, 6-2
- Woodson Mcmillin [UTK] def. Rich Lalance [MTSU], 6-4, 6-4
- Adrien Abarca [UTK] def. Houston Jacques [MTSU], 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
- Jose Garcia [UTK] def. Eric Crivei [MTSU], 6-1, 6-2
- Alexandre Vassard [MTSU] def. Martin Doskocil [UTK], 6-3, 7-5
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