Blue Raiders play well on Sunday

Texas Tech won the doubles point but the Blue Raiders performed well for the second straight day. Juniors John Peers and Victor Melo, ranked No. 23 in the current ITA poll, were leading No. 19 Raony Carvalho and Rafael Garcia 7-3 when play was suspended after the Red Raiders won the doubles point.

Sophomores Richard Cowden and Matthew Langley fell 8-3 to No. 35 Andre Stabile and Gonzalo Escobar while junior Kyle Wishing and freshman Shaun Water lost their match 8-3 to David Pace and Vitor Manzini.

In singles action, four players forced a third set in their matches. Melo won his first set 7-6 over Escobar but lost the second 6-2. The third set was 2-0 when play was suspended.

Waters performed well in just his second collegiate singles match. Waters lost the first set 7-5 but won the second 7-6 and was down just one set, 3-2, when play was suspended.

Senior Alex McCann fell to Manzini 6-0, 6-3 while Langley lost his match 6-0, 6-4 to Stabile as the Red Raiders took a 3-0 lead in the match.

Peers battled against No. 25 Carvalho losing the first set 6-3 but rebounding to win the second 6-4. In the third set the two fought to the end before Carvalho pulled ahead 7-5 for the win and gave Texas Tech the match.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 3 when it travels to Knoxville, Tenn., to face Tennessee.

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