Blue Raiders Defeat No. 53 Virginia Tech

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The 21st-ranked Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders won the doubles point and then gutted out three-set victories in two of the first four singles match en route to a 5-3 victory over 53rd-ranked Virginia Tech Monday at the Racquet Club.

The Blue Raiders ran their record to 9-0 on the season, their best start since beginning the 1997 campaign 12-0.

Middle Tennessee won the doubles point by taking two of three matches, including a 9-7 victory at No.1 by fifth-ranked Oliver Foreman and Robert Gustaffson. The 47th-rated duo of Daniel Klemetz and Kirk Jackson defeated Virginia Tech's Andreas Lauland and Stephane Rod, 8-4, at No. 2, while the Hokies' Michael Kurz and Davor Dupljak won at No. 3, 8-4 over Michael Staniak and Greg Pollack.

The Blue Raiders won the opening set in the first four singles matches, but had to claw their way to victory in two of the matches to claim the winning point in the dual match.

Klemetz, ranked 15th, won 6-2, 6-2 over No. 84 Kadiri at No. 1, but 40th-ranked Robert Gustafsson struggled in the final two sets, dropping a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 decision to Huot. Staniak defeated Dupljak at No. 4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, before No. 97 Foreman won 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-4, at No. 3 for the deciding point in the dual match.

Middle Tennessee's Kirk Jackson won 6-2, 6-2, over Rod, and Virginia Tech's Kurz defeated Rishan Kuruppu at No. 6, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 10-1.

"I am very happy to be 9-0. We played well as a team once again," Blue Raider head coach Dale Short said. "We've been struggling with our doubles a little bit, but hopefully we can get that taken care of this weekend."

The Blue Raiders travel to Corpus Christi, Texas, this weekend to take part in the HEB Invitational. Middle Tennessee is the top seed in the tournament, taking on New Orleans at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

SINGLES
1. (15) Daniel Klemetz (MT) def. (84) Saber Kadiri (VT) 6-2, 6-4
2. Francis Huot (VT) def. (40) Robert Gustafsson (MT) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. (97) Oliver Foreman (MT) def. Andreas Lauland (VT) 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-4
4. Michael Staniak (MT) def. Davor Dupljak (VT) 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3
5. Kirk Jackson (MT) def. Stephane Rod (VT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Michael Kurz (VT) def. Rishan Kuruppu (MT) 6-1, 6-7 (5), 10-1

DOUBLES
1. (5) Foreman/Gustafsson (MT) def. Kadiri/Huot (MT) 9-7
2. (47) Klemetz/Jackson (MT) def. Lauland/Rod (MT) 8-6
3. Kurz/Dupljak (VT) def. Pollack/Staniak (MT) 8-4

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