Blue Raiders defeat Hilltoppers 4-0

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee opened the Third Annual Sun Belt Shootout with a win as it defeated rival Western Kentucky 4-0 on Friday afternoon.

The No. 56 Blue Raiders began by winning the doubles point as No. 29 senior Robert McKenzie and sophomore John Peers paired up to defeat Thomas Krug and Andy True 8-2.

Then senior Morgan Richard and junior Victor Melo defeated Currie Martin and Priyan Gangadharan 8-2.

In singles action, McKenzie put Middle Tennessee up by two points with his 6-1, 6-0 win over True.

Then Richard defeated Martin 6-0, 6-3 while Melo clinched the match for the Blue Raiders with his 6-2, 6-2 win over Gangadharan.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action later this evening as it plays UL-Lafayette in the semifinals.

Singles
1. #104 John Peers (MT) vs. Thomas Krug (WKU) 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
2. #94 Robert McKenzie (MT) def. Andy True (WKU) 6-1, 6-0
3. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Currie Martin (WKU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Victor Melo (MT) def. Priyank Gangadharan (WKU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Matthew Langley (MT) vs. Arul Selvan (WKU) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
6. Kyle Wishing (MT) vs. Quinn Saine (WKU) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished

Doubles
1. #29 John Peers/Robert McKenzie (MT) def. Thomas Krug/Andy True (WKU) 8-2
2. Morgan Richard/Victor Melo (MT) def. Currie Martin/Priyank Gangadharan (WKU) 8-2
3. Matthew Langley/Kyle Wishing (MT) vs. Arul Selvan/Quinn Saine (WKU) unfinished

Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 10-9; National ranking #56
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (2,3,4)

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