WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary men's team dropped a barn-burner to Middle Tennessee, 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Millie West Tennis Facility. Senior Aidan Talcott and juniors Christian Cargill and Lars de Boer posted singles wins for the Green and Gold (9-9), but the Blue Raiders (11-12) pulled out a pair of three-setters, including the clincher at No. 5, to outlast the Tribe.
 
After Middle Tennessee claimed the doubles point, the Tribe answered with wins at the top two singles posts. Talcott pulled W&M even at one with a straight-sets victory at No. 1. He posted his third triumph in a row, bouncing Tom Moonen, 6-2, 6-2. Talcott, who won for the sixth time in his last eight matches at No. 1, pushed his season ledger to 13-9, while improving to 9-6 at the top spot. 
 
Moments later, Cargill won in commanding fashion to give the Green and Gold a 2-1 lead. The Tribe junior claimed his fourth-straight victory, upending Gonzalo Morell, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 2. Cargill upped his win total to 12 and jumped to 10-5 at the second singles slot.
 
The visiting Blue Raiders moved back in front, 3-2, following wins at No. 3 and No. 4 singles. At the third spot, Miguel Negre rallied from a set deficit to top senior Addison Appleby in a third set tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6.
 
de Boer pulled the Tribe even once again with a straight-sets victory at No. 6. He made quick work of Nicolas Buitrago, 6-3, 6-3, in winning his fourth in a row. de Boer improved to 4-1 at No. 6 and picked up his ninth win on the year.
 
The balance of the match came down to a three-set marathon at No. 5 singles. Senior Damon Niquet took the early lead by pulling out the first set, 6-4, over Middle Tennessee's Luis Morillo. The Blue Raider answered with a 6-2 victory in the second to force a decisive third set. In a back-and-forth final set, Morillo eked out a 7-5 win, claiming the final two games and cementing the visitor's victory.
 
The Tribe wraps up the regular season with its final two matches at home against in-state rivals next week. The Green and Gold welcomes VCU to the Millie West Tennis Facility on Wednesday, April 12, at 3:30 p.m., before celebrating Senior Day on Sunday, April 16, against Old Dominion at 1 p.m.
 
Middle Tennessee 4, William & Mary 3
Singles
No. 1 – Aidan Talcott (W&M) def. Tom Moonen (MT) – 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 – Christian Cargill (W&M) def. Gonzalo Morell (MT) – 6-2, 6-4
No. 3 – Miguel Negre (MT) def. Addison Appleby (W&M) – 5-7, 6-4, 7-6
No. 4 – Gian Issa  (MT) def. Alec Miller (W&M) – 7-6, 6-4
No. 5 – Luis Morillo (MT) def. Damon Niquet (W&M) – 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
No. 6 – Lars de Boer (W&M) def. Nicolas Buitrago (MT) – 6-3, 6-3
Finishing Order: 1, 2, 4, 3, 6, 5*
 
Doubles
No. 1 – Moonen/Morell (MT) def. Appleby/Bautil (W&M) – 6-3
No. 2 – Buitrago/Rauch (MT) def. Cargill/ Niquet (W&M) – 7-5
No. 3 – de Boer/Talcott (W&M) vs. Issa/Negre (MT) – DNF, 6-6
Finishing Order: 1, 2*