Men's Tennis Wins Four Times in Tourney

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee finished play at the Florida State Invitational in Naples, Fla., on Saturday, winning a pair of singles matches after picking up four victories on Friday.

Morgan Richard and Joao Paoliello both picked up victories on the final day of action. Richard defeated Georgia Tech's Eric Molnar, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, and Paoliello won 6-2, 7-5, over Florida State's Andrew Bailey.

Marc Rocafort dropped a 1-6, 1-6, decision to Kevin Anderson of Illinois and Marc Boiron lost 2-6, 3-6, to Georgia Tech's Zach Rath.

On Friday, the Blue Raiders won three singles matches and one doubles match, including victories by newcomer Richard Cowden.

Cowden defeated Florida State's Ryan Boyajian, 6-2, 6-1, while Richard won 6-4, 6-4, over Marc Spicijaric of Illinois. Richard also picked up a victory, 6-4, 6-2, against Brandon Davis of Illinois, but Boiron dropped a 0-6, 0-6, decision to Florida State's Michael O'Shea.

In doubles, Cowden and Rocafort defeated Alex Strom and Scott Kennel of Portland, 8-3, but the Blue Raiders dropped the other three matches.

Boiron and Richard dropped a 4-8 decision to Florida State's Bailey and Boyajian, while Rocafort and Paoliello lost to Georgia Tech's David North and Jose Muguruza, 6-8. Richard and Cowden dropped an 8-4 decision to FSU's Boyajian and Chris Cloer.

Middle Tennessee opens the 2007 dual match schedule with a pair of matches on Sunday, January 28, facing Western Michigan at 10 a.m. and East Tennessee at 6 p.m.

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