Middle Tennessee Edges Men's Tennis 4-3

Sunday, March 26

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1:00 PM

University of Louisville

Middle Tennessee State

March 26, 2006 | Men's Tennis

March 26, 2006

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - - The 18th ranked University of Louisville men's tennis team fell to host No. 38 Middle Tennessee 4-3 Sunday at the Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. The Cardinals fall to 13-4 on the season, while the Blue Raiders improve to 10-6.

"To beat a good team on the road is an uphill battle," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. " We had an opportunity to do it at No. 3 doubles and No. 2 singles, but came up short. This match could easily have gone the other way, but Middle Tennessee took advantage of their opportunities today."

The Blue Raiders won the doubles point to begin the match, marking only the third time this season the Cardinals have surrendered the doubles point. Louisville's Jeremy Clark and Jakob Gustafsson defeated fifth-ranked Marco Born and Andreas Siljestrom, 8-5, at No. 1. Middle Tennessee's Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn won 8-4 at No. 2 over Jhonny Berrido and Damar Johnson. Greg Pollack and Morgan Richard outlasted Stefan Naughton and Slavko Radman, 9-7, at No. 3 to clinch the point.

After falling behind in doubles, the Cardinals won at Nos. 1, 3 and 4 singles. Louisville's Radman, No. 96 in the ITA singles rankings tied the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 55 Siljestrom at the top seed. Richard pulled the Blue Raiders ahead with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Berrido at No. 5. The Cardinals evened the match again as Gustafsson defeated Schledorn 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3. Middle Tennessee answered as Born edged Johnson 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(5) at the two-spot. Clark responded by beating Allan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at No. 4, making the score 3-3. Kuruppu clinched the Blue Raider win with a 7-6 (3) decision over Nicolas Houard at No. 6.

U of L will travel to Norfolk Va., to play No. 71 Old Dominion on April 1.

No. 38 Middle Tennessee 4 - No. 18 Louisville 3SINGLES1. (96) Slavko Radman (UL) def. (55) Andreas Siljestrom (MT), 6-3, 6-22. Marco Born (MT) def. Damar Johnson (UL), 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5)3. Jakob Gustafsson (UL) def. Kai Schledorn (MT), 6-3, 6-34. Jeremy Clark (UL) def. Brandon Allan (MT), 6-4, 3-6, 6-35. Morgan Richard (MT) def. Jhonny Berrido (UL), 6-1, 6-26. Rishan Kuruppu (MT) def. Nicolas Houard (UL), 7-6 (3), 6-2Order of Finish: 1,5,3,2,4,6
DOUBLES1. Clark-Gustafsson (UL) def. (5) Born-Siljestrom (MT), 8-52. Allan-Schledorn (MT) def. Berrido-Johnson (UL), 8-43. Pollack-Richard (MT) def. Naughton-Radman (UL), 9-7Order of Finish: 1,2,3