Blue Raiders Sweep Battle of the Boro with 4-1 Win Over Rice

Sunday, February 22

Murfreesboro, Tenn

1:30 p.m.

Middle Tennessee

Rice University

2/22/2026 5:41:00 PM | Men's Tennis

Box Score

By: Edly Termilien / MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee capped off a dominant showing in the Battle of the Boro on Sunday, defeating Rice 4-1 to secure a weekend sweep at the Adams Tennis Complex

Rice initially took the doubles point with wins on court 1 and court 3. The match on court two, where Eric Crivei and Jonasz Dziopak were leading 5-2, remained unfinished.

However, Middle Tennessee made an inspiring comeback in singles play, winning four consecutive matches to secure the match.

Eric Crivei got the Blue Raiders started with a thrilling 7-5, 6-1 victory against Tommy Czaplinski on court five, tying the match at 1-1. The opening set was a competitive affair, with ties at three different points before Crivei pulled ahead.

Al-Amin then took charge, winning 6-3, 6-2 against Santiago Navarro on court two, putting MTSU ahead 2-1. Junior Birtan Duran further extended the lead with a solid 6-4, 6-2 win over Kabeer Kapasi at No. 4. Just two minutes later, senior Freddy Murray completed the match with a fantastic 6-0, 6-3 victory against Noey Do.

Play on courts one and three was left unfinished, with Ondrej Horak leading Petro Kuzmenok 7-6 (8-6), 2-1 on court one, while Jonasz Dziopak had an edge of 6-3, 5-4 over Rafael Botran at No. 3 when the action was paused.

UP NEXT
Middle Tennessee returns to action Friday, hosting No. 19 Princeton at the Adams Tennis Complex.

BOX SCORE

MTSU 4, RICE 1

DOUBLES RESULTS

Petro Kuzmenok/Santiago Navarro (Rice) def. #38 Karim Al-Amin/Ondrej Horak (MTSU) – 6-1

Eric Crivei/Jonasz Dziopak (MTSU) vs. Kabeer Kapasi/Yair Sarouk (Rice) – 5-2, unfinished

Tommy Czaplinski/Rafael Botran (Rice) def. Houston Jacques/Antoine Mayoral (MTSU) – 6-3

Order of Finish: 1, 3 Doubles Point: Rice

SINGLES RESULTS
Ondrej Horak (MTSU) vs. Petro Kuzmenok (Rice) – 7-6 (8-6), 2-1, unfinished

Karim Al-Amin (MTSU) def. Santiago Navarro (Rice) – 6-3, 6-2

Jonasz Dziopak (MTSU) vs. Rafael Botran (Rice) – 6-3, 5-4, unfinished

Birtan Duran (MTSU) def. Kabeer Kapasi (Rice) – 6-4, 6-2

Eric Crivei (MTSU) def. Tommy Czaplinski (Rice) – 7-5, 6-1

Freddy Murray (MTSU) def. Noey Do (Rice) – 6-0, 6-3

Order of Finish: 5, 2, 4, 6