| MTSU roundup: Melo, men's tennis fare well over weekend |
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By: MT Athletic Communications
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Posted: Friday, October 2, 2009 11:54 pm
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TULSA, Okla. – Victor Melo performed well on Sunday at the ITA All-American Pre-Qualifying tournament.
Melo, seeded 19th, pulled out a three-set battle on Saturday defeating Saint Louis’ Jake Hendrie 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 to put him within one win of advancing to the qualifying portion of the tournament.
Melo lost his pre-qualifying finals match to Dusan Medan of Marquette, seeded seventh, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Melo could still get into the qualifying portion of the tournament if he is selected as a Lucky Loser.
Lucky losers are selected into the Qualifying and Main Draw in order of the highest seeds that lose in the final qualifying rounds. Once the seeds are exhausted the remaining Lucky Losers are determined by random draw.
In Chattanooga, Tenn., at the UTC Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament, Alex McCann won his A1 championship match after Michael Hayes of Memphis withdrew due to an injury.
Matthew Langley fell to Alex Das of Eastern Kentucky 6-3, 6-0 in the championship match of A1 singles.
John Peers will begin the qualifying portion of the ITA All-American on Monday, Oct. 5. Peers will learn Monday morning who he will face in the tournament.
Melo and Peers will team for the doubles main draw later in the week after all of the qualifying has been completed.
Results from the ITA All-American Qualifying will posted on goblueraiders.com when they become available.
•••
SENIORS LEAD SOCCER TEAM TO 3-2 WIN
MOBILE, Ala. - Seniors Jen Threlkeld and Sarah Beth Lee combined for two-thirds of the team's goals as the Middle Tennessee soccer team garnered a 3-2 road Sun Belt victory Sunday afternoon at South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. Threlkeld netted the equalizer before Lee posted her second career tally for the game winner.
"It's good to bounce back from Friday," head coach Aston Rhoden said. "It was good to see the team rebound and play a complete 90 minutes. We played a good solid game against a solid South Alabama team on the road. Now our attention turns to returning home next weekend."
Sophomore Hope Suominen, the team's leader in assists, added a score of her own when she sent a free kick past Lady Jaguar goalkeeper Cassie Lythjohan at 22:20 to give MT a 1-0 edge.
South Alabama (2-9-1, 0-3-1 Sun Belt), however, countered with the next two scores to take a one-goal advantage. Allie Frakes registered the equalizer at 33:10 as she headed in a corner kick from Sam Stocker at the right post.
Brandi Smith then put the home team in the second half, at 66:47, as she broke free down the right side and fired her attempt from 25 yards out past Blue Raider keeper Rebecca Cushing.
Middle Tennessee (9-2-1, 3-1 Sun Belt) did not quit and on the ensuing kick-off, freshman Whitney Jorgenson found Threlkeld alone on the right flank. Threlkeld took the pass and placed her top-of-the-box shot to the left post to knot the scoring once again 13 seconds later, at 67:00.
The Blue Raiders maintained the offensive pressure over the next 12 minutes when freshman Allison Stallard sent a pass towards the net, finding the head of Lee at 79:24, for what proved to be the game winner. Lee becomes the 13th different Middle Tennessee player to score this season.
MT out-shot USA, 17-8, and held a 6-2 advantage on corner kicks. The Blue Raiders were led by Threlkeld's five attempts, including three on goal. Luisa Moscoso added three shots off the bench.
Smith paced the Lady Jaguars with three shots, while Natalie Parsons added a pair.
Middle Tennessee will resume its season at 7 p.m. Friday when it returns to Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium to face Arkansas State. The Blue Raiders will also play UALR at 1 p.m. Sunday as part of the two-game homestand.
•••
MELO WINS OPENING MATCH AT ITA ALL-AMERICAN
TULSA, Okla. – Victor Melo won his opening match at the ITA All-American Pre-Qualifying tournament on Saturday.
Melo defeated Holden Ching of Sacramento State in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4.
“Victor had a good first round match today, it's a long tournament and he should gain some confidence as he progresses through each round,” head coach David McNamara said. “He has prepared himself over the last three weeks to make a run in this tournament.”
On Sunday at 9 a.m., Melo will face Jake Hendrie of Saint Louis in the third round.
With a win, Melo advances to the fourth round and will be one win away from advancing to the qualifying portion of the tournament.
The rest of the men’s team continued play at the UTC Stave Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Saturday.
Matthew Langley, the second seed, won a three set battle over Leo Locatelli of Austin Peay 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the finals in A1 singles.
“I am very excited for Matthew to be in the final tomorrow. He has one more match to go to make it a very successful tournament. I am looking forward to seeing his result tomorrow,” McNamara said.
Langley will play Eastern Kentucky’s Alex Das, the one seed, at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Alex McCann defeated Kennesaw State’s Gianni Kubin 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the first championship final in his Blue Raider career.
“I am also very excited for Alex, he is a senior and it is his first final so I am thrilled for him to get this far. I hope that he can perform to his potential and bring home the goods,” McNamara said.
McCann will play Michael Hayes of Memphis on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the finals of A2 singles.
Also in A2 singles, Richard Cowden fell to Hayes 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the semifinals of A2 singles.
In A1 doubles, Cowden and Langley fell to Memphis’ Specer Heflin and John Taylor, seeded third in the bracket, 8-6.
Results from the Blue Raiders action on Sunday at both the ITA All-American tournament and the UTC Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament will be posted on goblueraiders.com when they become available.
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WOMEN'S TENNIS: NEWCOMERS POST DOUBLES WIN
LAFAYETTE, La. - Middle Tennessee newcomers Carla Nava and Yuiri Nomoto garnered the team's only win Saturday as the Blue Raiders continued competition at the UL Invitational in Lafayette, La.
The tandem, which received a bye into the Flight B semifinals, advanced to Sunday's championship with an 8-2 win against Southeastern Louisiana's Morgan Dadot and Alexandra Lindhal. The Blue Raider duo will face Northwestern State's Andrea Nedorostova and Martina Rubesova for the bracket championship.
Singles action was not as kind to Middle Tennessee, as all four players who had matches lost. Nomoto dropped her first collegiate match, taking host Louisiana's Julie Mazinova to three sets before falling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in Flight A.
Sophomore Marietta Bigus also went the distance with her opponent, Rubesova, but fell 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 (4) in Flight B.
In Flight C Consolation, Alex Dachos dropped a 6-3, 6-4 decision to New Orleans' Amber Garza, while in Flight C, Anna Djananova withdrew with an injury after being tied 3-3 in the first set against Louisiana's Mia Gordon.
The three-day tournament will conclude Sunday at the Cajun Courts.
Middle Tennessee Women's Tennis Results:
Singles:
Flight A:
Julie Mazinova (Louisiana) def. Yuiri Nomoto (MT) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
Flight B:
Martina Rubesova (Northwestern State) def. Marietta Bigus (MT) 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 (4)
Flight C:
Mia Gordon (Louisiana) def. Anna Djananova (MT) 3-3 (inj.)
Flight C consolation:
Amber Garza (New Orleans) def. Alex Dachos (MT) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles:
Flight B:
Carla Nava/Yuiri Nomoto (MT) def. Morgan Dadot/Alexandra Lindhal (Southeastern Louisiana) 8-2
•••
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 5TH AT LOUISVILLE CLASSIC
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Middle Tennessee cross country teams competed in the fourth meet on the teams' schedule, the Greater Louisville Classic at the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.
The men's team, led by 11th place overall finisher Festus Chemaoi and 14th place William Songock, finished 5th out of 39 teams with 251 points. The team improved three positions from 2008 where the men placed 8th in a 33 team field. Chemaoi finished in a time of 24:20, almost 40 seconds faster than last season. Songock ran the 8,000 meter course in 24:23.
Chris Mason finished third for the Blue Raiders, 57th overall, in a time of 25:18. David Emery ran strong, placing 85th in 25:37 with Isaac Biwott 10 seconds behind in 104th in 25:47. Josh Wheeler rounded out the men's squad.
"It was a good race and I am really proud of them," said head coach Dean Hayes. "Having Festus and William towards the front shows they have worked really hard. We like this race because the larger field gets the overwhelming feeling of large field races out the runner's system. This way, when we run the Sun Belt meet they are confident against the smaller 11 team field.
Zamzam Sangau once again led the Middle Tennessee women's team placing 11th running the women's 5,000 meter course in a time of 17:43. She improved two positions as she placed 13th in 2008.
Jackie Serem and Marla Bailey finished side by side both in 18:26 to take 45th and 46th. Bailey shaved 20 seconds from her time last season.
Amber Kassuba placed 140th in 19:32 with Kayla Bryan placing 168th in 19:45 to lead the team's freshman. Alissa Ruggle came in 225th in 20:35, Samantha Hunt ran 250th in 20:59, and Stephanie Smith finished 267th in 21:37.
The women finished 13th as a team with 386 points. They improved three spots from the 2008 race, where the team placed 16th.
The teams will return to Chattanooga, Tenn. in two weeks for the UTC Invitational; their last tune up race before the Sun Belt Championships in Monroe, La., on October 31. Full results and coverage for all Middle Tennessee cross country races will be available on goblueraiders.com.
•••
Soccer: Women suffer first SBC loss at Troy
TROY, Ala. - One score was all that was added to the scoreboard Friday afternoon as host Troy earned a 1-0 overtime victory against Middle Tennessee in Sun Belt soccer action at the Troy Soccer Complex in Troy, Ala.
The Blue Raiders dominated much of the contest, outshooting the Trojans, 17-3, but the visitors were unable to find the back of the net.
"It is a very disappointing loss," head coach Aston Rhoden said. "We created a lot of opportunities, but you have to credit Troy for taking advantage of a chance it had in overtime."
Troy (6-4-1, 2-1 Sun Belt) netted the game winner at 94:11 when Jill Pinder found the back of the net following a stop of a Blue Raider clearing attempt. The Trojans had lined up for a corner kick and when Middle Tennessee's defense tried to clear the ball away from the net, it deflected off a couple players inside the 18-yard box before landing at Pinder's feet for the unassisted score. It was the only corner kick of the game for Troy.
The Blue Raiders had several chances to put marks in their column, as sophomore Shan Jones led all players with five shots. Junior Jaimee Cooper posted four attempts, while senior Jen Threlkeld added two shots.
The loss for Middle Tennessee (8-2-1, 2-1 Sun Belt) ends a five-game winning streak and a six-game unbeaten run. The 8-2-1 record is one-half game shy of the program's best start through 11 matches, as the 2006 squad opened at 9-2.
The Blue Raiders will continue their road swing at 1 p.m. Sunday when they travel to Mobile, Ala., to face South Alabama.
•••
Raider netters start well at Baras Tournament
CHATTANOOGA – The Middle Tennessee men’s tennis team performed well on the opening day of the UTC Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament.
Matthew Langley opened play with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Kennesaw State’s Gokolp Ozdemir. Langley, seeded second in A1 singles, then defeated Brandon Flores of Southern Illinois 7-6 (2), 6-0 in the quarterfinals of play.
Langley will face Austin Peay’s Leo Locatelli on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the semi-finals.
In A2 singles, Richard Cowden received a bye in the first round. In the quarterfinals, Cowden defeated Carlos Cardenas of North Alabama in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (2).
Cowden will play Michael Hays of Memphis in the semifinals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Alex McCann won his first match 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (7) against Lipscomb’s Joe McArdle. McCann, seeded fourth in the bracket, then defeated Chikara Kidera of Southern Illinois 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (7).
In the semifinals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. McCann will face Kennesaw State’s Gianni Kubin.
Kyle Wishing defeated Southern Illinois’ Orhan Spahic 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (8) in the opening round of B1 singles. In the quarterfinals, Wishing fell to Jacob Wright of UNC-Greenville 6-0, 6-2.
Langley and Cowden, seeded first in the bracket, received a by in the first round of A1 doubles and will face Jan Mikos and Bruno Zuleta of North Alabama Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
In A2 doubles, McCann and Wishing fell 8-4 to Rafael Matos and Bruno Silva of Belmont.
Results from Saturday’s matches at the Steve Baras Memorial Tennis Tournament will be posted on goblueraiders.com at the end of play.
•••
Volleyball: Middle beats FAU 3-0
BOCA Raton, Fla. – Middle Tennessee took a 3-0 win over Florida Atlantic on Friday night to remain undefeated in Sun Belt action and extend its win streak to four.
The Blue Raiders (9-6, 2-0 SBC) notched 43 kills for a .383 hitting percentage with 12 total blocks on its way to the win.
“We played a very good match. We had very few unforced errors and served aggressively. For the first time in two years we are 2-0 to open conference play as we have lost to Western Kentucky opening weekend so that is a very good feeling,” head coach Matt Peck said.
Senior Ashley Mead continued her impressive performance as of late notching 11 kills while junior Izabela Kozon added 10 of her own.
Kozon had a team high 11 digs to post a double-double on the night while Mead added four digs of her own.
Sophomore Stacy Oladinni guided the defense at the net with six block assists while seniors Leslie Clark and Janay Yancey and sophomore Lindsay Cheatham each had three block assists.
“We did a good job of staying in system and for the second straight match the block came up huge for us,” Peck said.
Oladinni also had eight kills on the night to help the offense as well.
Florida Atlantic (3-9, 2-2 SBC) had just 19 kills in the match and three blocks. No Owls had double-digit kills in the match as the team hit just .026.
Middle Tennessee’s defensive specialists and libero, senior Ashley Waugh, sophomore Brynne Henderson and freshman Halie Vannoy combined for 15 digs to guide the backcourt defense.
The Blue Raiders will have Saturday off before facing preseason favorite Florida International and preseason Player of the Year Yarimar Rosa on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 12 p.m.
•••
Blue Raiders earn nine singles victories
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Middle Tennessee women's tennis team garnered nine total singles victories Friday during day one action of the UL Invitational in Lafayette, La., hosted by fellow Sun Belt member Louisiana.
Freshman Yuiri Nomoto continued her torrid start to her inaugural campaign by picking up a pair of wins in the Flight A singles. She defeated Central Arkansas' Petra Keilova 6-1, 6-2 before handing No. 2 seed Southeastern Louisiana's Audrey Chelini a setback in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Fellow newcomer Carla Nava, a transfer from Lamar, also participated in the Flight A singles bracket and captured a 7-6, 6-3 triumph over No. 3 seed Cassandra Escobar of New Orleans.
In the Flight B singles, the Blue Raiders registered five wins in six matches. Sophomore Marietta Bigus defeated New Orleans' Kristina Matic 6-1, 6-3, and host Louisiana's Milou Isreal, the top seed, 6-4, 6-4. Senior Natalie Araya also extended her winning streak by tallying victories against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Bianca Discordia, who was the No. 2 seed, 6-4, 6-3 and New Orleans' Ceara Howey 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Sophomore Taylor Coffey split her two matches in the flight, knocking off Morgan Dadot of Southeastern Louisiana in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.
Senior Anna Djananova collected her first singles win of the fall by a 6-1, 6-1 score over Alexandra Lindhal of Southeastern Louisiana.
In Flight A doubles action, Djananova and Araya handed Northwestern State's Dragana Colic and Adna Curukovic a 9-7 loss.
Tournament competition will continue Saturday and Sunday at the Cajun Courts. The Blue Raider pairing of Nomoto and Nava received a bye in the Flight B doubles and are set for semifinal action Saturday. |
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