Blue Raiders successful on Friday

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee men's tennis team performed well on the opening day of the UTC Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament.

Matthew Langley opened play with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Kennesaw State's Gokolp Ozdemir. Langley, seeded second in A1 singles, then defeated Brandon Flores of Southern Illinois 7-6 (2), 6-0 in the quarterfinals of play.

Langley will face Austin Peay's Leo Locatelli on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the semi-finals.

In A2 singles, Richard Cowden received a bye in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Cowden defeated Carlos Cardenas of North Alabama in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (2).

Cowden will play Michael Hays of Memphis in the semifinals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Alex McCann won his first match 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (7) against Lipscomb's Joe McArdle. McCann, seeded fourth in the bracket, then defeated Chikara Kidera of Southern Illinois 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (7).

In the semifinals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. McCann will face Kennesaw State's Gianni Kubin.

Kyle Wishing defeated Southern Illinois' Orhan Spahic 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (8) in the opening round of B1 singles. In the quarterfinals, Wishing fell to Jacob Wright of UNC-Greenville 6-0, 6-2.

Langley and Cowden, seeded first in the bracket, received a by in the first round of A1 doubles and will face Jan Mikos and Bruno Zuleta of North Alabama Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

In A2 doubles, McCann and Wishing fell 8-4 to Rafael Matos and Bruno Silva of Belmont. Results from Saturday's matches at the Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament will be posted on goblueraiders.com at the end of play.

Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter @MTAthletics for continued updates.