Feb. 29, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Day one results of the 2008 H.E.B. Invitational in Corpus Christi, Texas turned in the favor of the No. 39 men's tennis team. Texas Tech squeezed by No. 62 Middle Tennessee State 4-2 this morning, then took another win from No. 58 New Mexico 4-1 later that afternoon.

In doubles Tech struggled to get the early go-ahead over Middle Tennessee, dropping the doubles point in the No. 2 and 3 positions. The No. 2 duo of Christian Rojmar and Bojan Szumanski were the only duo to find a win defeating Morgan Richard and Marc Rocafort, 8-6.

Tech once again relied on the strength of their singles line-up to pull them through both matches. The Red Raiders found eight singles wins, with three players going 2-0 on the day. No. 49 Szumanski took MTSU's Rocafort to three sets, followed by a straight-set win over the Lobos' No. 39 Max Jones for the second consecutive weekend.

Sinisa Markovic held down Tech's No. 2 spot, while teammate Michael Breler continued to dominate at No. 6 notching in two wins and improving his duals record to 10-0. Also producing wins in singles was Rojmar against MTSU's Joao Paoliello, and Lenoir Ramos over UNM's No. 91 Johnny Parkes.

Tech will next face No. 64 host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the finals Saturday at noon.

#39 Texas Tech - 4
#62 Middle Tennessee State - 2
February 29, 2008

Doubles: 3, 1, 2*
1. #2Rojmar/Szumanski (TTU) def. Rocafort/Richard (MTS); 8-6
2. Peers/Cowden (MTS) def. Breler/Markovic (TTU); 9-7
3. Paoliello/Nowak (MTS) def. Babinciuc/Kustudija (TTU); 8-4


Singles: 6, 5, 4, 2, 1*
1. #49 Bojan Szumanski (TTU) def. Marc Rocafort (MTS); 3-6, 7-6, 6-2
2. Sinisa Markovic (TTU) def. John Peers (MTS); 7-6, 7-6
3. Lenoir Ramos (TTU) vs. Morgan Richard (MTS); 6-2, 3-6, 6-5
4. Richard Cowden (MTS ) def. #82 Ilya Babinciuc (TTU); 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
5. Christian Rojmar (TTU) def. Joao Paoliello (MTS); 6-2, 6-2
6. Michael Breler (TTU) def. Chris Nowak (MTS); 6-0, 6-1

#39 Texas Tech - 4
#58 New Mexico - 1
February 29, 2008

Singles: 6, 3, 1, 4, 2*
1. #49 Bojan Szumanski (TTU) def. #39 Max Jones (UNM); 6-2, 6-3
2. Sinisa Markovic (TTU) def. Miles Bugby (UNM); 6-2, 6-2
3. Lenoir Ramos (TTU) def. #91 Johnny Parkes (UNM); 6-4 6-2
4. Graeme Kassautzki (UNM) def. #82 Ilya Babinciuc (TTU); 6-4, 6-3
5. Christian Rojmar (TTU) vs. Chris Parkes (UNM); 6-4, 5-5 (dnf)
6. Michael Breler (TTU) def. Joe Wood (UNM); 6-4, 6-1