The Blue Raiders began the match on a high note by winning its first doubles match 8-5 as freshmen Richard Cowden and John Peers defeated Tobias Scheil and Chong Wang.

The Owls rebounded winning the next two doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Junior Morgan Richard and sophomore Marc Rocafort fell to Christoph Muller and Filip Zivojinovic 8-6. Then sophomore Joao Paoliello and freshman Chris Nowak forced a tie-breaker with Bruno Rosa and Dennis Polyakov but lost the match 9-8 (4).

In singles action, Schiel defeated Nowak 6-2, 6-1 in No. 6 singles while Cowden lost his match 6-3, 6-4 to Zivojinovic as the Owls took a 3-0 lead.

Then Richard, who played No. 1 singles, lost his match 7-5, 6-0 to nationally ranked No. 26 Rosa as the Owls clinched the match.

The Blue Raiders will be back in action on Sunday, March 22 to wrap-up play at the Rice Invitational.

Singles
1. #26 Bruno Rosa (RICE) def. Morgan Richard (MT) 7-5, 6-0
2. #49 Christoph Muller (RICE) vs. John Peers (MT) 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
3. Chong Wang (RICE) vs. Marc Rocafort (MT) 2-6, 4-3, unfinished
4. Filip Zivojinovic (RICE) def. Richard Cowden (MT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Dennis Polyakov (RICE) vs. Joao Paoliello (MT) 6-7 (3-7), 3-1, unfinished
6. Tobias Scheil (RICE) def. Chris Nowak (MT) 6-2, 6-1

Doubles
1. Christoph Muller/Filip Zivojinovic (RICE) def. Morgan Richard/Marc Rocafort (MT) 8-6
2. Richard Cowden/John Peers (MT) def. Tobias Scheil/Chong Wang (RICE) 8-5
3. Bruno Rosa/Dennis Polyakov (RICE) def. Joao Paoliello/Chris Nowak (MT) 9-8 (7-4)

Match Notes:
Middle Tennessee 7-10; National ranking #72
Rice University 11-5; National ranking #17
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,4,1)
46th Annual Rice Invitational Match #4

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