Blue Raiders End HEB Invitational with Win

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The men's tennis team defeated No. 71 Western Michigan 4-2 in it's final match of the HEB Invitational.

The Blue Raiders (6-9) won the doubles point to begin the match with a 1-0 lead. Freshmen John Peers and Richard Cowden defeated Kevin Hayward and Casey Cullen 8-4 while sophomore Joao Paoliello and freshman Chris Nowak clinched the point with their 8-6 win over Kazuya Komada and Michael Calderone.

Middle Tennessee continued this momentum into singles play as it won all but two singles matches.

Sophomore Marc Rocafort won his match over Western Michigan's (10-11) Hayward 6-2, 6-3. Peers won his match in No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-2 over Alex Biechmeier.

Morgan Richard won his match in No. 3 singles 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 over Komada. Paoliello and freshman Alex McCann fell in No. 5 and 6 singles respectively. Paoliello fell to Alejandro Staub 6-2, 6-2 while McCann lost his match 6-3, 6-1 to Calderone.

Richard Cowden was playing Bryan Norville but since the Blue Raiders had clinched the match play was suspended.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Sunday, March 16 at 10 a.m. when it plays host to Belmont at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.

Tennis Match Results Middle Tennessee vs Western Michigan Mar 01, 2008 at Corpus Christi, Texas

#62 Middle Tennessee 4, #71 Western Michigan 2

Singles
1. Marc Rocafort (MT) def. Kevin Hayward (WMU) 6-2, 6-3
2. John Peers (MT) def. Alex Birchmeier (WMU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Kazuya Komada (WMU) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
4. Bryan Norville (WMU) vs. Richard Cowden (MT) unfinished 5. Alejandro Staub (WMU) def. Joao Paoliello (MT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Michael Calderone (WMU) def. Alex McCann (MT) 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
1. Bryan Norville/Alex Birchmeier (WMU) vs. Marc Rocafort/Morgan Richard (MT) unfinished
2. John Peers/Richard Cowden (MT) def. Kevin Hayward/Casey Cullen (WMU) 8-4
3. Joao Paoliello/Chris Nowak (MT) def. Kazuya Komada/Michael Calderone (WMU) 8-6

Match Notes: Middle Tennessee 6-9; National ranking #62
Western Michigan 10-11; National ranking #71

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