Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech (5-1, 0-0) falls to Middle Tennessee (6-3, 0-0), 6-1, in only road nonconference match of season for the Hokies.
The Hokies struggled on the road against a Middle Tennessee squad that boasted two ranked singles players in the top 80.
The Blue Raiders took the first doubles match on court two, as Matt Harper and Alberto Orso fell to Ondrej Horak and Leo Raquin, 3-6. On court one, Tech tied it up with a 6-4 win from Ryan Fishback and Maxime St. Hilaire, besting Javier Cueto Ramos and Jakub Kroslak. The Hokies clinched the doubles point on court three, as Alex Ix and Michael Shepheard pulled out a 6-4 victory over Karim Al-Amin and Shu Matsuoka.
Tech would struggle in singles play. Alberto Orso was the first match to finish on court six, losing to Demis Taramonlis, 2-6, 2-6. No. 102 Ryan Fishback battled on court one, but eventually fell to No. 18 Leo Raquin, 4-6, 0-6.
Hugo Maia would drop his match to Ondrej Horak, 2-6, 2-6, on court three. Middle Tennesee would clinch the match on court four, as Michael Shepheard would fall to Shu Matsuoka, 4-6, 2-6. Maxime St. Hilaire had his hands full on court two, falling to No. 79 Marcel Kamrowski, 2-6, 4-6.
Alex Ix came closest to a victory, but fell in a grueling 6-7, 7-6, 0-1 (4-10) match on court five.
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Virginia Tech will host another doubleheader on Feb. 18 against Georgetown at 10 a.m., and George Mason at 2:30 p.m.