Featured photo by Brett Walker
Story by Brett Walker
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn- Middle Tennessee men’s tennis (18-9) wrapped up the regular season on Monday by defeating UNC Asheville (14-7) by a score of 4-0. The Blue Raiders now turn their attention to the Conference USA Tournament.
No. 36 MTSU is scheduled to play New Mexico State (8-12) in the first round of the tournament on Saturday.
Due to the small, four-team structure of Conference USA in men’s tennis, the teams are not forced to play each other in the regular season. Because of this, the teams are not very familiar with one another. As MTSU prepares for New Mexico State, head coach Jimmy Borendame is keeping an eye on the opponent but focusing most of his efforts inward.
“You know I don’t know a ton about them,” Borendame said of NMSU. “I just kind of go one match at a time, you know? I’ll start to check out New Mexico State now that we know that we’re playing them Saturday at 10:00, and I’ll just kind of take it in stride and start to kind of see how they do. I know they play Tennessee Tech on Wednesday at Tennessee Tech. The lineups have all been sent out, and the opportunity to challenge is up, but I really just try to focus more on us, and less on everybody else.”
Borendame’s ideologies have a history of success. The team is attempting to win its fifth straight CUSA title. While New Mexico State could pose a challenge for MTSU, easily the biggest threat to dethrone MTSU this season is No. 48 Liberty (16-7.) Liberty currently has six ranked wins on the year to MTSU’s four. However, Liberty lost to No. 57 Boise State whereas MTSU defeated them. Liberty is a likely championship matchup for MTSU assuming the Flames get past Jacksonville State (15-9.)
Regardless of the opponent, the key for MTSU to win its fifth straight title seemingly lies in doubles. The Blue Raiders have won the doubles point in 17 matches this season. In those matches, they boast an astounding 14-3 record. On the other end of the spectrum, MTSU has lost the doubles point in ten matches, in which they hold a .500 record of 5-5.
While every coach would love to start out hot in the doubles point, MTSU doesn’t always depend on that.
“I think our singles is strong enough where it’s difficult to win four (singles matches) off of us,” Borendame said. “We’re strong enough at all six spots that that’s a tough thing.”
This week will be a big one for the MTSU men’s tennis program as a whole. The team will rest on Tuesday and get good hard practices on Wednesday and Thursday, Borendame said. While on Friday, the team will be hosting over 25 alums for a men’s tennis reunion. The coaches and team will be busy between now and Saturday prepping for New Mexico State, but that gives them enough time to tweak some things.
“There are definitely some things we need to work on, so Coach Cali, Coach John and I will make a plan of attack for Wednesday and just take one day at a time,” Borendame said.
Even with all the fanfare of hosting the CUSA Tournament, the Blue Raiders aren’t losing sight of their original goal. Sophomore Ondrej Horak, who has fond memories of last season’s conference championship, is locked in ahead of Saturday’s semifinal.
“There is just one goal, to win the conference five times in a row. Just one goal, get easy W’s,” Horak said.
The coming weekend is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the Blue Raiders. An opportunity to extend their dominance to half a decade.
Brett Walker is a sportswriter for MTSU Sidelines. For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.
