COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Middle Tennessee senior Robert McKenzie and sophomore John Peers battled in the NCAA Individual Doubles Championship on Friday but lost in the round of 16.
McKenzie and Peers fell to Texas A&M's Austin Krajicek and Connor Pollock 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 16 but still had an impressive season as a doubles pair for the Blue Raiders.
"Rob and John deserve to be congratulated for making it the NCAA championship. It's not easy to get into and it reflects the quality of their play throughout the year," head coach David McNamara said. "Having made it to the tournament they would be disappointed with their performance. Rob was up a set and a break in his singles and lost 11 of the next 12 games. And in doubles, they played a solid match against the pair from Louisville but then against the pair from Texas A & M in front of the big crowd, they didn't bring their A-Grade game which is unfortunate on the big stage."
Peers and McKenzie end the 2009 season with a 10-2 record as a doubles pair and were ranked most of the season in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. The duo also led the Blue Raiders to the Sun Belt Championships title which was the first under McNamara.
"These guys have represented MTSU very well this semester but we need them to step up from being 90's in the country to 30's in the country. And the best part about going to the NCAAs is you get to see the dedication and work ethic the top players have. Natural talent can get you inside the top 100 but only hard relentless work on the tennis court will get these guys where we all want them to be," McNamara said. The pair playing in the NCAA Individual Championships wraps up all play for the men's tennis team who had a dual match record of 16-10 and 5-9 against ranked opponents.
"Ultimately the University provides a great platform for these guys to gain an education and take their tennis to really impressive levels. We continue to communicate to all of our athletes that will probably be the best four years of their life. We want them to make the most of every opportunity for their sake and that of the University. It takes hard work and it takes courage to push yourself and your teammates on a daily basis," McNamara said. "I am already looking forward to next season to see who is willing to take their preparation and their game to the next level."
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