Blue Raiders Fall to Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Sophomore Marc Rocafort posted the only win for Middle Tennessee on Friday as the Blue Raiders fell to Indiana 6-1.

Rocafort played No. 2 singles as he defeated Indiana's (6-1) Phillip Eilers 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 in a super tie-breaker.

Indiana took the doubles point to begin the match with a 1-0 lead. Freshmen Chris Nowak and Richard Cowden fell to Thomas Richter and Lachlan Ferguson 8-2. Then Middle Tennessee's (4-6) junior Morgan Richard and Rocafort tied the doubles match at one apiece with their 8-6 win over Phillip Eilers and Dara McLoughlin in No. 1 singles.

The Hooziers then clinched the point with their 8-4 win by Santiago Gruter and Michael McCarthy over sophomore Alex McCann and freshman John Peers.

In singles action, Indiana increased its lead to 2-0 as Richard fell to McLoughlin 6-0, 6-2 in No. 3 singles.

McCann lost his match with Gruter which put Indiana one win away from clinching the match. The Hooziers then clinched the match with McCarthy's win over Paoliello 6-4, 6-1.

Rounding out play for the Blur Raiders, Cowden fell to Ferguson 6-4, 6-4 in No 4 singles. Peers and Rocafort each won the second set after dropping the first set. Rocafort defeated Eilers 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 in a super tie-breaker while Peers lost his in a super tie-breaker to Richter 7-5, 4-6, 1-0.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when it faces Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. at 10 a.m. Then on Sunday, Feb. 24 the Blue Raiders will travel to Nashville to play Vanderbilt at 3 p.m.

Singles

1. Thomas Richter (IND) def. John Peers (MT) 7-5, 4-6, 1-0

2. Marc Rocafort (MT) def. Phillip Eilers (IND) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0

3. Dara McLoughlin (IND) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 6-0, 6-2

4. Lachlan Ferguson (IND) def. Richard Cowden (MT) 6-4, 6-4

5. Michael McCarthy (IND) def. Joao Paoliello (MT) 6-1, 6-4

6. Santiago Gruter (IND) def. Alex McCann (MT) 6-2, 6-0

Doubles

1. Morgan Richard/Marc Rocafort (MT) def. Phillip Eilers/Dara McLoughlin (IND) 8-6

2. Thomas Richter/Lachlan Ferguson (IND) def. Richard Cowden/Chris Nowak (MT) 8-2

3. Santiago Gruter/Michael McCarthy (IND) def. John Peers/Alex McCann (MT) 8-4

Match Notes:

Middle Tennessee 4-6; National ranking #55

Indiana 6-1; National ranking #58

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,6,5,4,2,1)

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