Homestand continues Tuesday for Middle Tennessee tennis

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's tennis returns to the courts for the second time in four days when it plays host to No. 46 ULM at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the on-campus Buck Bouldin Tennis Center. The Blue Raiders previously welcomed Louisiana to town for a contest Saturday, which opened the current eight-match homestand. Middle Tennessee has dropped its last three outings to even its record at 4-4. The Blue Raiders earned the doubles point in Saturday's meeting with the Ragin' Cajuns but could not maintain the momentum in picking up only two wins in singles action. "I believe our record does not reflect the confidence level of this team," head coach Melissa Schaub said. "Everyone continues to work hard every day in practice and continues to believe we have a chance to win each time we step onto the court. If we continue to have that attitude, it will translate into success." Sophomore Yuiri Nomoto tops the squad with five singles wins, all at the No. 1 position. The No. 6 slot has been equally productive for Middle Tennessee, with junior Alex Dachos picking up three of the triumphs. In doubles play, the Blue Raiders have earned most of their victories at the No. 2 spot, as juniors Marietta Bigus and Lexi Brand have registered five wins. ULM enters the contest winners of nine straight to improve its record to 10-1 and jump into the national rankings. Included among the victories was a 6-1 decision at No. 73 Mississippi State Feb. 27 and a 7-0 victory against Lipscomb Monday in Nashville. Claire Clark, a two-time Sun Belt Player of the Week recipient, brings a 9-0 singles record to town with the seven of the triumphs coming at the No. 1 position. Three other Warhawks have 7-3 or better singles ledgers. The No. 2 and 3 doubles duos have been especially strong for ULM, combining for only three losses in 20 matches thus far this spring. Live stats for the contest will be available by going to the link in the At a Glance section on the GoBlueRaiders.com homepage.

Getting to know...Marietta Bigus

1. How did you first hear about Middle Tennessee? I was back home and decided to look for a different school. I went online and it was just coincidence that I found it on Google. I had never heard of it before and none of my friends had ever heard of it.
2. What do you miss most about your hometown and country (Rumia, Poland)? Definitely, my family and friends, and of course, my mom. I am really close to my family, a real family person.
3. If you could send back home for one item to bring here, what would it be? I would ask my mom to cook something for me and bring it because the food is so different here.
4. What is your major and why did you choose it? My major is math with concentration in actuarial science. I have a good head for numbers, and since I was 14, I've had extra-curriculum in math and physics. I want to work with stocks in the future. It's something that I enjoy. I like a challenge, and I think this is one of the most challenging things I can take here.
5. What type of music do you listen to before a match? I prefer chiller music, slower, to put myself in a zone, not to think about anything, to get cooled down, and get ready to play.
6. What is the strength of your game and what do you need to work on? I am a very competitive player, so I would say that is my strength. I need to spend more time on my serving, and I need to be more conscious.
7. What improvements have you noticed in the team since the fall? The fall was pretty challenging because we were all practicing on the things we hated the most. We played thousands and thousands of balls, which wasn't very exciting. We didn't like it at the time, but now I can see it was completely worth it because we are all more consistent, and choosing what ball to hit on each shot.
8. Which teammate is the most competitive? I think Alex. She is an extremely competitive person. She always wants to be the best every time she steps on the court. But she is always friendly about it. Second place is never enough for her.
9. Where on Campus do you go to study? Most of the time, I stay in my room, but when it gets too much, sometimes I go to the library. If I know that my roommates are going to be home, then I definitely go to the library.
10. What do you plan to do after graduation? I want to go to grad school, and I am looking at my options right now. I definitely want to be around tennis. I'd like to stay around here, and be a part of this program as a manager or something. I really like it here.

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Players Mentioned

Marietta Bigus

Lexi Brand

Alex Dachos

Yuiri Nomoto

Middle Tennessee State University Athletics