MT wins twice to open the 2018 season

Sunday, January 14

Murfreesboro, Tenn. - Adams Tennis Complex

11 AM

Middle Tennessee

Belmont

1/14/2018 7:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Raiders defeat Belmont and Austin Peay

By: @MTAthletics

MT vs. Belmont results
MT vs. Austin Peay results
Season Statistics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's women's tennis team couldn't have asked for a better start to the season, as the Blue Raiders won matches against Belmont and Austin Peay on Sunday.

"We thought we were deep coming into today based on a good week of practice, and we showed that today," MT head coach Charlie Ramsay said. "We're a very deep team, and we have the luxury of bringing girls in and out of the lineup. We're using our depth as an advantage all year."

Maria Josefina Zehnder and Marta Peris Herrero got the day started with a 6-0 triumph at the No. 3 doubles spot against Belmont. The Blue Raiders clinched the first point of the season behind Kim Kermet and Luisa Zirilli's 6-3 win at the top doubles spot.

In singles against the Bruins, MT won all six matches in straight sets. Zirilli cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5, followed by Kermet on court one, 6-0, 6-1. Lee Barnard clinched the first victory of the year in her first match as a Blue Raider, winning by a score of 6-0, 6-3 at No. 2. Herrero, Lidia Burrows and Zani Barnard also claimed singles wins to complete the 7-0 sweep over Belmont.

"So far [the Barnard sisters are] a big impact. They've both played at a high level; they've both won a lot. They both bring that mentality to this team and help change that mindset to more of a winning mindset," Ramsay said.

Against Austin Peay in the final match of the day, the Blue Raiders showed their strength in doubles to take the first point in the match heading into singles action. Kermet and Zirilli won by a score of 6-1 at No. 1, followed by a 6-2 win at No. 3 by Zehnder and Herrero. Lee and Zani Barnard were slotted at No. 2 and were up 5-2 but were unable to finish their match.

The Blue Raiders tacked on four points in singles but surrendered two, making the final score 5-2 in favor of MT. Costanza Magazzini cruised to a victory at the No. 2 spot, 6-2, 6-4, and Lidia Burrows clinched the match win at No. 5 with a score of 6-2, 6-3.

"Costanza managed her match really well against a really quality opponent. I was impressed with the way she kept her cool and played good tennis. She really helped that side of building move along with how she was able to manage her match," Ramsay added. "Lidia came from a break down in the second set to win that match. We needed somebody to get off court there, and she came through."

MT hosts Lipscomb and Murray State at the Adams Tennis Complex on Saturday, with action starting at 11 a.m.