Seniors Lead 6-1 Victory Over Memphis

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee seniors Trevor Short and Kirk Jackson broke out of a slump, leading the 63rd-ranked Blue Raiders with wins in both singles and doubles in defeating 72nd-ranked Memphis, 6-1, Friday afternoon at the Racquet Club.

Short and Jackson, the 30th-ranked doubles pairing in the nation, were 0-3 in dual matches in doubles, as both have battled injuries in the young spring season. But their 8-6 victory over UM's Lee Taylor Walker and James Spence help set the tone for the Blue Raiders to take the doubles point en route to the victory.

Middle Tennessee (3-4) avenged a loss last season in Memphis to the Tigers, a defeat head coach Dale Short termed "one of the my most embarrassing as a head coach." The Blue Raiders got the doubles point and the final five singles matches for their third win of the season, all at home.

The 46th-ranked Blue Raider tandem of Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn defeated Marten Tamla and Alex Bucewicz, 8-3, at No. 2 doubles, and Middle Tennessee's Rishan Kuruppu and Andreas Siljestrom won 8-5 over UM's Alex Jago and Luke Campbell at No. 3.

In singles, the 48th-ranked Walker got Memphis its only point of the match with a 6-4, 6-2, win over Siljestrom at No. 1. Short defeated Spence, 6-2, 7-6 (3), at No. 2, while Schledorn won a three-setter against Tamla, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Jackson showed resiliency in defeating Bucewicz, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4, after the Blue Raider senior came into the match 1-5 in dual match singles, including a trio of three-set losses.

Kuruppu defeated Sam Withell, 7-6 (4), 6-4, at No. 5, while Anant Sitaram won 6-3, 6-3, at No. 6 over Campbell.

Short was very happy with the victory after a pair of tough losses last weekend on the road.

"I thought we were a little more seasoned than Memphis and it was finally nice to win some close matches," Short said. "We've had some guys struggling with their confidence and it was good to see them battle and win, especially the seniors. I'm very happy with the victory over a sold Memphis team."

The Blue Raiders return to action Sunday at noon, hosting the Purdue Boilermakers at the Racquet Club of Murfreesboro.

#63 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 6, #72 MEMPHIS 1
SINGLES
1. (48) Lee Taylor Walker (UM) def. Andreas Siljestrom (MT), 6-4, 6-2
2. Trevor Short (MT) def. James Spence (UM), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
3. Kai Schledorn (MT) def. Marten Tamla (UM), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
4. Kirk Jackson (MT) def. Alex Bucewicz (UM), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4
5. Rishan Kuruppu (MT) def. Sam Withell (UM), 7-6 (4), 6-4
6. Anant Sitaram (MT) def. Luke Campbell (UM), 6-3, 6-3

DOUBLES
1. (30) Jackson-Short (MT) def. Walker-Spence (UM), 8-6
2. (46) Brandon Allan-Schledorn (MT) def. Tamla-Bucewicz (UM), 8-3
3. Kuruppu-Siljestrom (MT) def. Alex Jago-Campbell (UM), 8-5

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