Men's Tennis Posts 5-0 Triumph

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee won all five completed singles matches, as the 42nd-ranked Blue Raiders defeated Troy, 5-0, Saturday in the semifinals of the 2nd Annual Sun Belt Shootout in Lafayette, La. Middle Tennessee plays Sunday in the finals of the event against the winner of South Alabama and Arkansas-Little Rock, a match being played Saturday night.

The Blue Raiders (11-11) won their second straight match with the victory over the Trojans (5-8), who earlier in the day upset 47th-ranked Denver, 4-2. The match was played indoors because of temperatures in the 40's in Lafayette. A victory on Sunday would give Middle Tennessee the Sun Belt shootout crown for the second straight season.

Middle Tennessee's two seniors, Andreas Siljestrom and Marco Born, set the tone for the match with the first two victories.

Born, ranked 118th nationally, defeated Bona Ung, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 2 before 87th-ranked Siljestrom won 6-3, 7-6 (4) over Irving Morales at No. 1. Sophomore Morgan Richard posted a 6-2, 6-2, triumph over Dai Edwards-Evans at No. 4 and Marc Rocafort defeated Dusan Medan, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, at No. 3. Joao Paoliello claimed the final victory for the Blue Raiders with a 6-4, 6-0, win at No. 5 against Bastian Maucher.

"I said going into this tournament that our seniors really carry us in every match," head coach Dale Short said. "Those guys did a real good job today of getting us off to a good start and Morgan continued to play well also. We just have to keep it going for another match [Sunday]."

#42 Middle Tennessee 5, Troy 0
SINGLES
1. (87) Andreas Siljestrom (MT) def. Irving Morales (Troy), 6-3, 7-6 (4)
2. (118) Marco Born (MT) def. Bona Ung (Troy), 6-4, 6-1
3. Marc Rocafort (MT) def. Dusan Medan (Troy), 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
4. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Dai Edwards-Evans (Troy), 6-2, 6-2
5. Joao Paoliello (MT) def. Bastian Maucher (Troy), 6-4, 6-0
6. Marc Boiron (MT) vs. Guilherme Sahadi (Troy), 3-3, DNF
Order of Finish: 2,1,4,3*,5

DOUBLES
Did Not Play

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