Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, January 15
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
4 p.m.
Middle Tennessee
6
vs
1
Belmont
Blue Raiders down Bruins in season opener
1/15/2016 6:37:00 PM | Women's Tennis
MT opens Adams Tennis Complex with win
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's women's tennis program started off the 2016 season with a 6-1 win over Belmont in the new Adams Tennis Complex on Friday night.
"It was a really fun atmosphere with great crowd support," head coach Charlie Ramsay said. "We had to start behind the eight ball because we were short on players, but the girls took care of business and didn't waste time."
Brittany Huxley and Giulia Squadrin started off the match with a 6-1 victory at the No. 2 doubles. To clinch the doubles point and tie the match at one point apiece, Darya Shulzhanok and Sarah Sediri took a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles.
The pair was tied with their opponents from Belmont at 2-2 before reeling off the next three games. Sediri finally put away the match point with a perfect volley after Shulzhanok put her in good position with a brilliantly placed serve.
Sediri continued her dominant night with a 6-0, 6-0 clean sweep of her opponent at No. 5. Squadrin followed that up by making quick work of her opponent at No. 4, winning the match and only giving up a single game, 6-1, 6-0.
The clinching point was won by Huxley, as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 2 singles spot. Freshman Luisa Zirilli earned the first win of her career at MT with a 6-3 6-2 victory at No. 3.
It took a second set tiebreak, but Shulzhanok took the win at No. 1 singles in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3). Shulzhanok slammed the door shut on her opponent with an ace to finish the match off and make the final match score 6-1 in favor of the Blue Raiders.
There will be no time off for MT, as they'll face Kennesaw State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"They'll be a tough team and will be hungry for a win in their first match of the season," Ramsay said of his second opponent. "It was great to get a win tonight, but our girls will have to continue to bring good energy tomorrow."
Updates on scoring can be found on Twitter by following @MT_WomensTennis.
Belmont vs Middle Tennessee
1/15/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 6, Belmont 1
Singles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Kendall Warren (BELW) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Suzanna Stapler (BELW) 6-2, 6-2
3. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Abbie Mather (BELW) 6-3, 6-2
4. Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Maddie Gilley (BELW) 6-1, 6-0
5. Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Mical Johnson (BELW) 6-0, 6-0
6. No player (BELW) def. No player (MT), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok/Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Kendall Warren/Abbie Mather (BELW) 6-3
2. Brittany Huxley/Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Suzanna Stapler/Maddie Gilley (BELW) 6-1
Match Notes:
Belmont 0-1
Middle Tennessee 1-0
"It was a really fun atmosphere with great crowd support," head coach Charlie Ramsay said. "We had to start behind the eight ball because we were short on players, but the girls took care of business and didn't waste time."
Brittany Huxley and Giulia Squadrin started off the match with a 6-1 victory at the No. 2 doubles. To clinch the doubles point and tie the match at one point apiece, Darya Shulzhanok and Sarah Sediri took a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles.
The pair was tied with their opponents from Belmont at 2-2 before reeling off the next three games. Sediri finally put away the match point with a perfect volley after Shulzhanok put her in good position with a brilliantly placed serve.
Sediri continued her dominant night with a 6-0, 6-0 clean sweep of her opponent at No. 5. Squadrin followed that up by making quick work of her opponent at No. 4, winning the match and only giving up a single game, 6-1, 6-0.
The clinching point was won by Huxley, as she cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 2 singles spot. Freshman Luisa Zirilli earned the first win of her career at MT with a 6-3 6-2 victory at No. 3.
It took a second set tiebreak, but Shulzhanok took the win at No. 1 singles in straight sets, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3). Shulzhanok slammed the door shut on her opponent with an ace to finish the match off and make the final match score 6-1 in favor of the Blue Raiders.
There will be no time off for MT, as they'll face Kennesaw State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"They'll be a tough team and will be hungry for a win in their first match of the season," Ramsay said of his second opponent. "It was great to get a win tonight, but our girls will have to continue to bring good energy tomorrow."
Updates on scoring can be found on Twitter by following @MT_WomensTennis.
Belmont vs Middle Tennessee
1/15/2016 at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Middle Tennessee 6, Belmont 1
Singles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok (MT) def. Kendall Warren (BELW) 6-1, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Brittany Huxley (MT) def. Suzanna Stapler (BELW) 6-2, 6-2
3. Luisa Zirilli (MT) def. Abbie Mather (BELW) 6-3, 6-2
4. Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Maddie Gilley (BELW) 6-1, 6-0
5. Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Mical Johnson (BELW) 6-0, 6-0
6. No player (BELW) def. No player (MT), by forfeit
Doubles competition
1. Darya Shulzhanok/Sarah Sediri (MT) def. Kendall Warren/Abbie Mather (BELW) 6-3
2. Brittany Huxley/Giulia Squadrin (MT) def. Suzanna Stapler/Maddie Gilley (BELW) 6-1
Match Notes:
Belmont 0-1
Middle Tennessee 1-0
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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