Blue Raiders take 4-1 win over UL-Lafayette to advance

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Blue Raiders defeated UL-Lafayette 4-1 on Friday night to advance to the championship match of the Sun Belt Shootout.

· Sun Belt Shootout Bracket

The Blue Raiders began the match by winning the doubles point as sophomore John Peers and junior Victor Melo paired up to defeat Piotr Banas and Piotr Olechowski 8-1.

Seniors Robert McKenzie and Morgan Richard won their match 8-1 over Neil Schneider and Javie Pulgar-Garcia.

"We had a few times where it could have gone either way and we pulled it out. It shows that we are maturing and getting ready for the conference tournament and postseason play," head coach David McNamara said. "Now we have to get some rest and prepare for South Alabama in the finals tomorrow."

Melo retired his match to Olechowski in the first set with it tied 2-2 as ULL tied the match at 1.

Peers handed the Blue Raiders back the lead with his 6-3, 6-0 win over Pulgar-Garcia. Then Richard defeated Schneider in three sets 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 to put Middle Tennessee ahead 3-1.

McKenzie won a three-set battle 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 over Banas to hand the Blue Raiders the win.

Middle Tennessee will face South Alabama in the championship match at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. Tournament consolation matches will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Singles
1. #94 Robert McKenzie (MT) def. Banas, Piotr (ULL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
2. #104 John Peers (MT) def. Pulgar-Garcia, Javie (ULL) 6-3, 6-0
3. Olechowski, Piotr (ULL) def. Victor Melo (MT) 2-2, retired
4. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Schneider, Neil (ULL) 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
5. Matthew Langley (MT) vs. Domoney, Arlen (ULL) 6-3, 4-0, unfinished
6. Kyle Wishing (MT) vs. Mandl, Yanick (ULL) 4-5, unfinished

Doubles
1. #40 John Peers/Victor Melo (MT) def. Banas, Piotr/Olechowski, Piotr (ULL) 8-1
2. Robert McKenzie/Morgan Richard (MT) def. Schneider, Neil/Pulgar-Garcia, Javie (ULL) 8-1
3. Matthew Langley/Kyle Wishing (MT) vs. Domoney, Arlen/Bristow, Bradley (ULL) 1-5, unfinished

Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (3,2,4,1)

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