NOTEBOOK: Blue Raiders Tennis Starts Spring Season this weekend! – Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As the fencing surrounding the construction of the new on campus tennis facility finally came down last week, Blue Raider Men’s and Women’s Tennis are both getting their 2024 spring schedules underway with matches this weekend in the dead of winter.
The Men’s Team will look to defend its CUSA title for the fifth season in the row, starting their journey with a double header against Presbyterian and Tennessee State on Saturday at the Adams Tennis Complex in Old Fort Park. The match against the Blue Hose is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and the match against the Tigers is set for 5 p.m.
Head Coach Jimmy Borendame has certainly been excited to see the progress made on the new outdoor complex ahead of its ribbon cutting on Tuesday, January 23 at 2 p.m.
Nets up ⬆️ and scoreboard operates!!! 😀#GSD pic.twitter.com/WvSBaod9vt
— Jimmy Borendame (@CoachJimmyB) January 4, 2024
😎😎😎Night photo 📸 shoot at the new courts under the lights 💡#damnvideogames #starwars #jedimaster #Rocco pic.twitter.com/H5DCAhqdHV
— Jimmy Borendame (@CoachJimmyB) January 6, 2024
Women’s Tennis begins 2024 on the road
Women’s Tennis is also starting competitive play for this semester this weekend, traveling to Starkville, Miss. for matches against CUSA foe Jacksonville State and host Mississippi State. MTSU is coming off a season where they were undefeated in Murfreesboro and looking to take on the new look CUSA.
Check out some behind the scenes from picture night on the new on-campus courts ahead of the start of the spring!
Photo day is in the books for @MT_WomensTennis and @MT_MensTennis on their new home courts. 📸
Next up, the 2024 season! 🎾#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/4ae8JF56SF
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) January 8, 2024
Men’s Basketball begins CUSA Play in the Glass House
Conference USA Hoops is back in the Murphy Center this week, with Men’s Basketball drawing the first two home games of the 2023-24 schedule, hosting LA Tech on Thursday and Sam Houston on Saturday in the Glass House.
The Bulldogs enter Thursday’s contest ranked second in CUSA in the NCAA’s NET metric, sitting at No. 94 after a non-conference slate that saw several solid wins over mid-major opponents. But they’ll be extra hungry on Saturday after falling to Sam Houston on the road over the weekend. Tipoff against the Bulldogs is set for 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network and the Blue Raider Radio Network, if you can’t make it to the Glass House.
Saturday evening’s matchup against the Bearkats will be the first ever matchup between the men’s basketball programs. Sam Houston is led by first-year head coach Chris Mudge, who was promoted following the departure of Jason Hooten to New Mexico State.
Conference play next 😤 pic.twitter.com/7AtTs29tZC
— Middle Tennessee Men’s Basketball (@MT_MBB) January 7, 2024
Women’s Basketball hits the road to start CUSA Play
As per usual in the current CUSA scheduling set-up, the Lady Raiders will be on the road against the same opponents the Blue Raiders play at home this week, heading to Ruston, La. on Wednesday to take on the Lady Techsters at 6 p.m. before heading to Huntsville, Texas on Saturday for a 2 p.m. matinee tip against the Bearkats. LA Tech was victorious in the two team’s CUSA matchup over the weekend, winning 66-62.
Ahead of CUSA play last week, the Lady Raiders were leading the conference in a plethora of offensive categories. Don’t miss seeing them in action on ESPN+ or the Blue Raider Radio Network this week!
Entering @ConferenceUSA play the Lady Raiders lead the league in:
▫️ 3FGs Per Game
▫️ Free Throw Percentage
▫️ Scoring Defense
▫️ Assist/Turnover Ratio #BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/EjAWGKnBvP— Middle Tennessee Women’s Basketball (@MT_WBB) January 6, 2024
Derek Mason to meet with fans at City Auto Mitsubishi
City Auto Mitsubishi in Murfreesboro will sponsor a Meet and Greet with Derek Mason on Thursday, Jan. 11 from 1-3 PM. The event will be held at the dealership located at 1015 Bridge Avenue and will be open to the public.
Mason, who became MTSU’s new head football coach on Dec. 6, will provide brief remarks to fans while being available for photos and autographs. Along with light refreshments, guests will have the opportunity to walk away with some exciting giveaways and promotional items.
For any questions about the event, please contact Lynsey Freeman ([email protected]) at 901-413-1539.
Hang out with @CoachDerekMason at @CityAuto in Murfreesboro on Thursday from 1 to 3 PM!
📰 Details: https://t.co/dDsAwJy6rl pic.twitter.com/mN8vUJ562O
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) January 7, 2024
Track and Field off the starting blocks for return of Indoor Season
Good to see some strong results for MTSU Track and Field at Tennessee State’s Ed Temple Classic as the Blue Raiders stretched their legs heading into the rest of the Indoor season.
Freshman John Sherman shined for the men, winning both the 55-meter and 200-meter dashes in the Music City. Two Blue Raider women, Leonie Beu (400-meter dash) and Lakesha Smith (200-meter dash) won their events over the weekend. You can find full results in the release below!
Thats a wrap in Music City! #BLUEnited https://t.co/nXs7xR8YYl
— Middle Tennessee XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) January 6, 2024
Track stays in action on January 13 at the University of Michigan’s Michigan Invitational!
Nielsen is your Fall Conference USA Spirit of Service Award Honoree
Middle Tennessee Soccer’s Sascha Nielsen is one of eight Conference USA Fall Spirit of Service Award winners.
The award honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing and participation in their sport. The Spirit of Service award is presented three times throughout the season, with Friday’s honorees across CUSA representing the league’s fall sports.
Our Great Dane!
Sascha Nielsen is a @ConferenceUSA Fall Spirit of Service Award winner! 🏆
📰 https://t.co/4AJMO3RXqg pic.twitter.com/XVZoiRK2ka
— Middle Tennessee Soccer (@MT_Soccer) January 5, 2024
The junior from Abyskov, Denmark participated in numerous community ventures over the past year, including the Kings Hammer Center of Excellence, the MTSU Triathlon, Tennessee Special Olympics, MTSU Soccer Clinics, TOPSoccer clinics, Kings Hammer training sessions and MTSU Trick or Treat night.
Nielson maintains a 4.0 GPA while majoring in psychology with a minor in neuroscience. She is a CUSA All-Academic Team member as well as a CSC Academic All-District honoree. The junior from Denmark played in 18 matches and made 14 starts in 2023 while logging a goal against New Mexico State and an assist versus Cleveland State.
Charvarius Ward named to 2024 Pro Bowl
Thanks to everyone that voted, couldn’t have made it without y’all. First Pro Bowl is an amazing feeling. Let’s go get this other bowl in February. pic.twitter.com/tQyP0A9mP7
— Charvarius Ward (@itslilmooney) January 4, 2024
.@itslilmooney is a Pro Bowler!#BLUEnited | #MiddleMade https://t.co/5KqnEQDptf
— Middle Tennessee Football (@MT_FB) January 4, 2024
