Blue Raiders Down Golden Eagles 4-2

Middle Tennessee (7-9) took the doubles point to begin the match with a 1-0 lead. Freshmen John Peers and Richard Cowden defeated Borja Zarco and Tiago Gilioli 8-4 to begin play.

The Blue Raiders clinched the point as freshman Chris Nowak and sophomore Joao Paoliello teamed up to defeated the Golden Eagles' Lloyd Harris and Juan Pablo Gomez 8-4.

Since the doubles point had already been clinched play was suspended in No. 1 singles as Giovanni Vaglietti and Dean O'Brian lead junior Morgan Richard and sophomore Marc Rocafort 5-4.

In singles play the Blue Raiders continued to perform well as Peers extended the lead with his 6-1, 6-4 win in No. 1 singles over Zarco. Then in No. 2 singles Rocafort defeated Vaglietti 6-4, 6-4 while Nowak lost 6-4, 7-6 to Mario Gutierrez in No. 6 singles.

Paoliello clinched the match for Middle Tennessee with his 6-2, 6-3 win over Gomez in No. 5 singles to put Blue Raiders up 4-1.

Cowden rounded out play as he lost his match with Gilioli in No. 4 singles 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 giving Tennessee Tech its second win of the day.

The Blue Raiders will be back in action March 21-23 when they travel to Houston, Texas to compete in the Rice Invitational.

Singles
1. John Peers (MT) def. Borja Zarco (TTU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Marc Rocafort (MT) def. Giovanni Vaglietti (TTU) 6-4, 6-4
3. Morgan Richard (MT) vs. Dean O'Brian (TTU) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
4. Tiago Gilioli (TTU) def. Richard Cowden (MT) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
5. Joao Paoliello (MT) def. Juan Pablo Gomez (TTU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Mario Gutierrez (TTU) def.Chris Nowak (MT) 6-4, 7-6

Doubles
1. Morgan Richard/Marc Rocafort (MT) vs. Giovanni Vaglietti/Dean O'Brian (TTU) 4-5, unfinished
2. John Peers/Richard Cowden (MT) def. Borja Zarco/Tiago Gilioli (TTU) 8-4
3. Chris Nowak/Joao Paoliello (MT) def. Lloyd Harris/Juan Pablo Gomez (TTU) 8-4

Match Notes:
Tennessee Tech University 7-2
Middle Tennessee 7-9; National ranking #70
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (1,2,6,5,4)

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.