MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's 53rd-ranked men's tennis team won its fourth match in a row Sunday, sweeping the doubles and all six singles in a 7-0 victory over Furman at the Racquet Club.
The Blue Raiders (6-1) started fast, winning all three doubles tilts, and did not let the Paladins into the match throughout. Furman (2-5) gave Vanderbilt all it wanted on Saturday in Nashville before losing, 4-3, and Middle Tennessee wanted to make sure and take care of the visitors early.
"I was a little worried coming into the match because Furman is a good team and very well-coached," Middle Tennessee head coach Dale Short said. "We started strong in doubles and continued to work in all of the singles matches, and the hard work really paid off."
The 29th-ranked doubles tandem of Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn got in the win column, defeating Furman's Allen Simmons and Andy Sobczyk, 8-5, at No. 1. Greg Pollack and Anant Sitaram gave the Blue Raiders the doubles point with an 8-6 victory over Kevin Lackey and Scott Kahler at No. 3. The 58th-ranked duo of Andreas Siljestrom and Marco Born finished off Ben Pauluhn and Greg Maarscshalk, 8-5, at No. 2.
In singles, the Blue Raiders did not let up, starting with Siljestrom, ranked 68th in singles, defeating Simmons, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1. Schledorn upped his dual match mark to 7-0 with a 6-1, 3-6, 10-8 victory over Pauluhn at No. 2, while Born won 6-4, 6-1, over Brennen Phippen at No. 3.
Pollack made quick work of Sobczyk at No. 4, 6-3, 6-2, with Anant Sitaram winning 6-4, 6-4, over Stephen Nash at No. 5, and Allan taking a 6-2, 6-3 decision over Ryan Friend at No. 6.
Middle Tennessee finished its current four-match homestand this Friday with a pair of matches, entertaining Virginia Tech at 1:30 p.m. and Southern Illinois at 7 p.m., both at the Racquet Club.
#53 Middle Tennessee 7, Furman 0
SINGLES
1. (68) Andreas Siljestrom (MT) def. Allen Simmons (FU), 6-3, 6-2
2. Kai Schledorn (MT) def. Ben Pauluhn (FU), 6-1, 3-6, 10-8
3. Marco Born (MT) def. Brennen Phippen (FU), 6-4, 6-1
4. Greg Pollack (MT) def. Andy Sobczyk (FU), 6-3, 6-2
5. Anant Sitaram (MT) def. Stephen Nash (FU), 6-4, 6-4
6. Brandon Allan (MT) def. Ryan Friend (FU), 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES
1. (29) Allan-Schledorn (MT) def. Simmons-Sobczyk (FU), 8-5
2. (58) Siljestrom-Born (MT) def. Pauluhn-Greg Maarschalk (FU), 8-5
3. Sitaram-Pollack (MT) def. Kevin Lackey-Scott Kahler (FU), 8-6
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