MURFREESBORO - Singles play hurt Austin Peay
State University men's tennis team in a 4-3 non-conference loss at Middle
Tennessee, Thursday.
Austin Peay (9-5) won the doubles point, but
dropped four of six matches to the Blue Raiders. After winning four straight
matches from Feb. 18 to March 7, the Govs have three of their last five
matches.
Singles play cost the Govs at Middle
Tennessee. After winning the doubles point in dramatic fashion, they failed to
transfer that momentum into singles. Sophomore Henrique Norbiato picked up a
quick win at No. 1 singles in straight sets, while freshman Jasmin Ademovic
earned the Govs other win at No. 2 singles.
It was the Blue Raiders (7-8) depth that
caused Austin Peay trouble. Both sophomore Sean Bailey and freshman Joao Pagan
lost at Nos. 3 and 4, respectively, in three-set matches. In both instances,
the Govs won the first set, but could not maintain.
In doubles action, No. 2 team of Ademovic and
Calleja won a super tiebreaker to clinch. Sophomore John Storie and Pagan also
won 8-6 at No.3. It was the second-straight win for Calleja and Ademovic. It
also marked the second consecutive match for the Govs to win the doubles point.
It was the Govs final non-conference match
with the final stretch of Ohio Valley Conference play coming up. Austin Peay
hosts Tennessee Tech, March 31, and Eastern Illinois, April 2, at the Austin
Peay Tennis Courts.
Middle Tennessee 4, Austin Peay 3
Singles competition
1. NORBIATO, Henrique (APSU) def. Shaun
Waters (MT) 6-4, 6-3
2. ADEMOVIC, Jasmin (APSU) def. Matthew
Langley (MT) 6-3, 6-4
3. Ben Davis (MT) def. BAILEY, Sean (APSU)
2-6, 6-0, 6-4
4. Elliot Barnwell (MT) def. PAGAN, Joao
(APSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
5. Kyle Wishing (MT) def. CALLEJA, Remi
(APSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Dimitri Pippos (MT) def. STORIE, John
(APSU) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Shaun Waters/Ben Davis (MT) def. NORBIATO,
Henrique/BAILEY, Sean (APSU) 8-6
2. ADEMOVIC, Jasmin/CALLEJA, Remi (APSU) def.
Elliot Barnwell/Matthew Langley (MT) 9-8
3. STORIE, John/PAGAN, Joao (APSU) def.
Dimitri Pippos/Kyle Wishing (MT) 8-6
