Blue Raiders Fall 4-3

MONROE, La. - The men's tennis team fell to Florida Atlantic in a close 4-3 match in the consolation match of the Sun Belt Championships on Sunday.

Middle Tennessee won the doubles point winning two of three doubles matches. Sophomore Joao Paoliello and freshman Kyle Wishing fell 8-3 to Joe Cadogan and Lawrence Harradine.

Then the Blue Raiders rallied as junior Morgan Richard and sophomore Marc Rocafort defeated Oliver Sajous and Karol Szmurlo 8-6. Freshmen Alex McCann and John Peers clinched the point with their 8-5 win over Marc Abdeinour and Eddie Majcher.

In singles play, FAU tied the score at 1 all as Majcher defeated McCann 6-1, 6-2. Then Joe Cadogan put the Owls up 2-1 as he won his match over Wishing 6-3, 6-2.

Rocafort fell 6-4, 6-4 to Sajous as FAU pulled ahead by two. Then freshman Chris Nowak started a rally as he defeated Daniel Vardag 6-4, 6-4. Peers tied the match at 3 with his win over Abdeinout 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Richard's match was the last to finish as he fell to Szmurlo 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8) who clinched the match for the Owls.

The Blue Raiders end the 2008 season 9-16 overall ad 2-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.

Singles
1. Olivier Sajous (FAU) def. Marc Rocafort (MT) 6-4, 6-4
2. John Peers (MT) def. Marc Abdeinour (FAU) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
3. Karol Szmurlo (FAU) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
4. Chris Nowak (MT) def. Daniel Vardag (FAU) 6-4, 6-4
5. Eddie Majcher (FAU) def. Alex McCann (MT) 6-1, 6-2
6. Joe Cadogan (FAU) def. Kyle Wishing (MT) 6-3, 6-2

Doubles
1. Marc Rocafort/Morgan Richard (MT) def. Olivier Sajous/Karol Szmurlo (FAU) 8-6
2. Alex McCann/John Peers (MT) def. Marc Abdeinour/Eddie Majcher (FAU) 8-5
3. Joe Cadogan/Lawrence Harradine (FAU) def. Joao Paoliello/Kyle Wishing (MT) 8-3

Match Notes:
Florida Atlantic 16-5; National ranking #73
Middle Tennessee 8-14; National ranking #71
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,1,4,2,3)

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