Men's tennis earns No. 2 seed for Sun Belt Championships

NEW ORLEANS - The Blue Raider men’s tennis team earned the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Sun Belt Championships after garnering a No. 53 national ranking in the latest ITA polls. The ranking is the highest mark under second-year head coach Jimmy Borendame, the league’s reigning Coach of the Year. The Blue Raiders begin the quest to defend their 2011 Sun Belt tournament title against WKU on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Denton, Texas.

MT enters the tournament with a 16-7 record, having won eight of its last nine. It marks the most wins since the Blue Raiders also won 16 matches in 2009. Ben Davis has been outstanding in his sophomore campaign, playing in the top slot throughout the season. An All-Sun Belt honoree last season, Davis holds an overall record of 23-8, including a 15-4 mark in dual action, and has won nine consecutive singles matches. He has also been stellar in doubles play, partnering primarily with freshman Christoph Lang in the No. 2 slot. The duo has won eight of its last 10 and is 13-10 overall.

Senior Matthew Langley, the Most Outstanding Player from the 2011 Sun Belt Championships, and freshman Ettore Zito have each been solid in singles as well, playing in the two and three holes. Both Langley and Zito have won seven of their last eight contests.

MT has won two of the last three Sun Belt titles, claiming the crown in 2009 in addition to 2011. The Blue Raiders’ only other league championship came in 2005.

Denver earned the top seed with a No. 48 national ranking, while No. 71 Louisiana is the No. 3 seed and No. 57 South Alabama round out the top four.

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