Blue Raiders Fall 5-2 to No. 30 Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Junior Morgan Richard and sophomore Joao Paoliello each posted wins in Middle Tennessee's 5-2 loss to No. 30 Vanderbilt on Sunday.

The Commodores (7-1) swept the doubles point to begin the match. Paoliello teamed with sophomore Marc Rocafort as they lost 8-6 to Vijay Paul and Adam Baker to begin the match. Nick Cromydas and Bryant Salcedo defeated Richard and freshman Chris Nowak 8-4.

Freshmen John Peers and Richard Cowden fell to Ryan Preston and Evan Dufaux 9-7 to round out doubles play for the Blue Raiders (4-8).

In singles play, Nowak fell to Dufaux 6-7 (7), 7-6 (5) while Rocafort lost his No. 2 singles match with No. 68 Paul 6-1, 7-6 (0).

In No. 1 singles, No. 97 Ryan Preston defeated Peers 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch the match. Then Morgan Richard won his match 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Cromydas, 4-1 VU.

Rounding out action for the Blue Raiders were Cowden and Paoliello. Cowden fell 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1 to Salcedo while Paoliello defeated Alex Zotov 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action Feb. 29 through March 1 as it competes in the HEB Invitational hosted by Rice University in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Singles
1. No. 97 Ryan Preston (VU) def. John Peers (MTSU), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. No. 68 Vijay Paul (VU) def. Marc Rocafort (MTSU), 6-1, 7-6(0)
3. Morgan Richard (MTSU) def. Nick Cromydas (VU), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
4. Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Richard Cowden (MTSU), 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-1
5. Evan Dufaux (VU) def. Chris Nowak (MTSU), 7-6(1), 7-6(5)
6. Joao Paoliello (MTSU) def. Alex Zotov (VU) 6-4, 4-6, 10-8
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6

Doubles
1. Ryan Preston/Evan Dufaux (VU) def. John Peers/Richard Cowden (MTSU), 9-7
2. Nick Cromydas/Bryant Salcedo (VU) def. Morgan Richard/Chris Nowak (MTSU), 8-4
3. Vijay Paul/Adam Baker (VU) def. Marc Rocafort/Joao Paoliello (MTSU), 8-6
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1