MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee won the doubles point and Kai Schledorn posted a three-set victory in the deciding match in a 4-2 triumph by the 36th-ranked Blue Raiders over No. 56 Fresno State Saturday at the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
The Blue Raiders (9-6) avenged a loss to the Bulldogs 10 days ago in Fresno, Calif., a match where Fresno State won the doubles point and four three-set singles outings. But on Saturday Middle Tennessee turned the tables, taking the doubles point and a trio of three-set singles outings.
"It was really a dramatic, thrilling match that came down to the wire," head coach Dale Short said. "I really challenged the guys to step up and they did that."
The Blue Raiders began by winning the first two completed doubles matches.
Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn defeated Charles Irie and Rudolf Siwy, 8-5, at No. 2, and Greg Pollack and Morgan Richard won 8-6 at No. 3 over Jakub Cech and Sam Tadevosian.
In singles Middle Tennessee won four of the five completed matches, including three in three sets.
Fresno State's Jordi Ballester defeated Pollack, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6 and Sergiu Modoc gave the Bulldogs their other point with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, triumph over Marco Born at No. 2.
Allan took care of Irie at No. 4, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3, and Richard overcame an early deficit to defeat Tadevosian at No. 5, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5. Schledorn finished off the victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, victory over Siwy at No. 3.
"We didn't win the close matches last time [against Fresno State], but this time we did," Short said. "We haven't been playing aggressive at the crucial moments in a match, but we played much better at those times today.
"I'm proud of the way the guys competed, and I was really pleased with Morgan Richard. He lost the first set in a difficult situation, a controversial decision, but he pulled it together and won."
Middle Tennessee returns home for the first time in a month when it hosts Louisville, currently ranked 12th in the country, on March 26 at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center.
#36 Middle Tennessee 4, #56 Fresno State 2
SINGLES
1. (47) Andreas Siljestrom (MT) vs. (75) Jakub Cech (FS), DNF
2. Sergiu Modoc (FS) def. Marco Born (MT), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
3. Kai Schledorn (MT) def. Rudolf Siwy (FS), 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
4. Brandon Allan (MT) def. Charles Irie (FS), 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3
5. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Sam Tadevosian (FS), 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5
6. Jordi Ballester (FS) def. Greg Pollack (MT), 6-2, 6-1
DOUBLES
1. (3) Born-Siljestrom (MT) vs. Sam Gibbs-Modoc (FS)
2. Allan-Schledorn (MT) def. Irie-Siwy (FS), 8-5
3. Pollack-Richard (MT) def. Cech-Tadevosian (FS), 8-6
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